EDR Magazine #64 July/August 2022

N° 64 • July/August 2022

MAGAZINE European Defence Review Air-to-Air Missiles seeking longer ranges and improved capabilities

Manned-Unmanned Teaming with present and future combat aircraft

E urope’s Future Combat Air Systems at Crossroads

Germany’s Renewed Commitment to NATO

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I S S U E N°

64

2022

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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The new ASRAAM Block 6 version incorporates new and updated subsystems, including a new generation seeker of increased pixel density and a built-in cryogenic cooling system. © MBDA Eurodrone is being developed by a consortium of Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo. © Airbus

Air-to-Air Missiles seeking longer ranges and improved capabilities

By Luca Peruzzi

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Europe’s Future Combat Air Systems at Crossroads

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Manned-Unmanned Teaming with present and future combat aircraft

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Germany’s Renewed Commitment to NATO

By David Oliver

By Luca Peruzzi

By David Oliver

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Air-to-Air Missiles seeking longer ranges and improved capabilities

By Luca Peruzzi

The Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM is the only BVRAAM so far integrated and in service with the US and international customers of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II. © U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Michael Jackson

The advent of adversarial long-range air-to-air missile (AAM) threats such as the very long range Russian R-73M and newest variants of the R-77, alongside the Chinese PL-15 beyond visual range AAM (BVRAAM), as well as new short range air-to-air missiles (SRAAMs) developed by the same countries, have pushed NATO and Allied forces together with US, European and Israeli missile houses to further evolve in-service weapon systems and work onto new solutions to counter the mentioned threats. In addition to the propulsion/control system and warhead, a key area of development in the missile domain is the guidance package based in the air-to-air arena on radio frequency (RF) and imaging infrared (IIR) seekers for respectively BVRAAM and SRAAM solutions. Little information is usually provided by missile manufacturers about their seeker technologies and capabilities, this analysis wanting to give a flavour of in-service and readily applicable solutions to further enhance current weapon systems capabilities without forgetting key capabilities that distinguishes each missile.

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The crew of the USAF’s 40th Flight Test Squadron flying the F-15EX Eagle II prepares to fire an AIM-120D missile during a test mission. The F-15EX can hold up to 12 AIM-120D missiles. © U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John Raven

An F-35C being loaded with AMRAAM missiles. The AIM-120D-3 F3R equipped with the latest SIF 3F software release is planned to be delivered from 2023 on. © US Marine Corps photo by Capt. Charles Allen

BVRAAMs gain momentum The development and deployment of longrange, high-speed BVRAAMs equipped with active radar seekers by Russia and China forced in recent times Western countries and industries to counteract with new development or the upgrade of current active radar seekers and processing. The present generation of radar seekers is based on conventional gimbaled antennas, where mechanical inertia limits the capability of steering a narrow beam with high speed and precision, without forgetting the limited RF power handling capacity. Even if missile manufacturers continue to work on new, lighter weight, solid-state, softwarecontrolled RF seekers with gimbaled antennas, the long ranges BVRAAMs arena requires more capable and powerful seekers, currently looking to the Active Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) technology. The latter offers significant enhancements compared to gimbaled antennas,

In addition to the Royal Air Force Typhoons, the MBDA Meteor missile in an internal carriage variant will be integrated onto the same service’s and Italian MoD’s F-35 fleet. © Cpl Joe Blogs/UK MOD Crown Copyright 2022

the fundamental difference being the instant beam switching across a zone of coverage, equivalent to gimbal angle freedom without antenna physical movement, alongside higher accuracy, power and operational ranges, significant better countermeasures capabilities as well as higher availability, all this coming however at a higher cost.

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The AMRAAM’s saga Having entered into service in September 1991, the Raytheon AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air-Missile (AMRAAM) will soon get a new hardware and software package upgrade to be kept up-to-date into the next decade and beyond, while the designated successor is being readied by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to enter into service and progressively replace the AMRAAM. The newest variant, the AIM120D-3, completed a series of captive carry flight tests in late 2021; data collected were exploited in the development of the final software release, which started extensive qualification testing in November 2021, to be followed by several guided live fire events planned for 2022. The AIM-120D-3 delivers a significant capability upgrade through the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) programme, a comprehensive project to mitigate systemic hardware obsolescence issues in the AIM-120D’s guidance section, and sustain AMRAAM production beyond Lot 32, awarded in March 2018. In use by 41 nations, the AMRAAM is flying on the F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 C/D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-22 Raptor, Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen, Tornado and AV-8B Harrier II Plus. It is also the only BVRAAM

qualified on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Intended to replace the current AIM-120D version, which reached initial operational capability in 2015, the F3R hardware upgrade efforts include the use of digital technologies such as model-based system engineering to upgrade 15 circuit cards in the missile’s guidance section. Together with enhancements introduced through the AIM-120 AMRAAM System Improvement Program (SIP), a weapon software update package, the F3R will significantly augment the processing power of the missile, delivering increased performance enhancements, allowing the radar to counter emerging threats employing advanced electronic attack capabilities. In December 2019, Raytheon Missiles & Defense was awarded the Lot 33 production contract which included the first AIM120D-3 (F3R) missiles incorporating the SIP 3F software, to be delivered from 2023 on. The F3R hardware and the SIP software upgrades have been engineered also for the current AIM-120D (also known as AIM-120C-8) which represents a significant technology leap compared with previous AMRAAM versions, having introduced a new two-way data link, more accurate navigation using a GPS-enhanced inertial measuring unit (IMU), expanded no-escape envelope and improved high off-boresight capability. It was an AIM-120D that was used for what the USAF

The Saab Gripen is one of the three combat aircraft, together with the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale, having been qualified to operate the Meteor BVRAAM. © MBDA

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The Meteor is equipped with a solid fuel, variable flow, ducted rocket ramjet propulsion to provide the missile with a thrust all the way to target intercept. This, according to MBDA, provides the “largest no-escape zone of any air-to-air missile”. © MBDA

described as the “longest known air-to-air missile shot” during the “long shot” test in 2021.

A follow-on software release known as SIP 4 and currently under technology maturation and risk reduction contract since 2019 is expected to provide increased probability of kill when it will be fielded in 2025.

Meteor A cooperative development between France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, headed by MBDA leading a group of European industrial partners to meet the needs of the six European nations, the ‘game changer’ Meteor BVRAAM is widening its customers portfolio. In addition to the mentioned European customers, the Meteor is finding success in the Middle East, South America and Far East, having been procured by Qatar, Brazil, Greece and the UAE. In 2019 Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) awarded MBDA a contract to integrate (but not procure so far) the Meteor on the future Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X) 5th generation fighter aircraft for the Republic of Korea Air Force. The ramjet-powered Meteor missile was intended to engage a wide range of targets, from agile fighters to small-radar cross-section targets from low-to-high altitudes and ranges in excess of 100 km, with a special design focused on an optimized no-escape zone versus launch success zone, together with an advanced guidance package providing most stringent long-range, all-weather operations and robust

The MBDA Italy’s Fusaro facility maintains the only production line of the Meteor BVRAAM seeker, being the design authority of the same mechanically-gimballed Ku-band active radar seeker. © MBDA

electronic protection capabilities. With a 190 kg weight, a length and diameter of respectively 3.7 meters and 178 mm, the Meteor is equipped with a solid fuel, variable flow, ducted rocket ramjet propulsion to provide the missile with a thrust all the way to target intercept. This, according to MBDA, provides the “largest no-escape zone of any air-to-air missile” with an agile end-game kill phase and data link capability in flight. The Meteor is equipped with an active radar seeker designed to provide multi-shot capability against long-range manoeuvring targets such as fast jets, small unmanned air vehicles and cruise missiles within a dense electronic countermeasures environment. It uses a mechanically-gimballed Ku-band active radar seeker developed and produced by MBDA Italia, based on a jointly Thales/MBDA development of an improved derivative of the AD4A seeker already used on the Mica and Aster missile programmes. The Meteor is commonly equipped with a two-way datalink manufactured by Leonardo/Indra to give network-centric capabilities allowing the use of third party targeting thus adding further mission flexibility. In addition to the completed integration onboard the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen and Dassault Aviation Rafale, Lockheed Martin was contracted in 2021 to integrate the modified internal carriage-variant of the Meteor on the F-35 for the UK and Italian Ministries of Defence (MoD) as part of the Block 4 package with the support of BAE Systems and MBDA, but according to the UK MoD’s Defence equipment Plan 2021, its entry into service is not anticipated to be until 2027.

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The Meteor is expected to be subjected to a mid-life upgrade (also known as Capability Enhancement Programme, CEP) activity by mid-/ end-2020s, to further extend its service life and cope with evolving air-to-air warfare and threats.

According to the same UK MoD’s Defence equipment Plan 2021, a two-year Meteor Mid-Life Upgrade Concept Study “will deliver its findings in mid-2023, to determine the optimum solution of future Meteor capabilities and affordability”.

Key technologies under consideration include the integration of an AESA seeker, which could potentially evolve the missile into a multi-purpose weapon system with ground-attack capabilities.

Thales issued an unsolicited offer for a new seeker development, the company having a long tradition of joint activities with MBDA and being developing the AESA seeker for the French MoD’s MICA NG programme which first missiles deliveries are planned for 2026. The recent decision by the Italian MoD to equip the new generation Teseo Mk2/E long-range anti-ship/ surface-to-surface missile with an AESA seeker, adds a new candidate for the development of the

potential new guidance system for the Meteor.

The Teseo Mk2/E development programme is expected to be completed by late 2026/early 2027. The Ku-band AESA seeker development is based on an industrial agreement between MBDA and Leonardo, where the latter develops and provides the AESA antenna with transmitter receiver modules employing GaN technology, while the new generation back-end including the large-band digital receiver, signal processing components and software is developed and supplied by MBDA Italia which acts also as design authority, integrator and provider.

This new seeker will offer a quantum leap in capabilities in term of detection range, highrange-resolution (HRR), aim point selection and target classification, thanks to cognitive waveforms and algorithms, as well as advanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), low-probability of intercept, agile beam forming, multi-target tracking and better angular accuracy together with graceful degradation. These capabilities will also support the application in the air-to-air arena, although no details were provided, as the AESA array is expected to be

The Meteor’s active radar seeker is designed to provide multi-shot capability against long-range manoeuvring and small radar cross-section targets within a dense electronic countermeasures environment. © MBDA

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The I-Derby ER introduces a new, lighter weight, solid-state, softwarecontrolled RF seeker developed in-house by Rafael. © Rafael

A long-range derivative of the I-Derby AAM, its Extended Range version retains the same shape and dimension of the legacy weapon, while introducing a new dual-pulse rocket motor providing a 100+ km range, a new state-of-the-art RF seeker and a twoway data link. © Rafael

reduced in size to fit into the Meteor’s 178 mm diameter airframe. A confirm of the increasing interest toward the capabilities offered by the AESA seeker technology comes from the Japanese MoD’s Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) co-development programme with the United Kingdom, where the Meteor airframe and propulsion is matched with a technological derivative of the AESA seeker developed by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for the national AAM-4B BVRAAM programme.

I-Derby ER A long-range derivative of the I-Derby AAM by Rafael, the I-Derby ER retains the same shape and dimension characteristics of the legacy I-Derby AAM. A new state-of-the art RF seeker based on solid-state technology also provides enhanced lookdown/shoot-down and lock-on-before-launch/lockon-after-launch functions, advanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), multi-shot and all-weather engagement capabilities. To

extend the range at over 100 km Rafael introduced a dual-pulse rocket motor that, according to the company, enables optimal thrust management in accordance with mission requirements, providing a significantly extended flight range. Initiated by the missile’s flight control system, which manages the flight plan of the missile, it adds extra velocity and acceleration, giving it better end-game manoeuvrability. The new interceptor also features a redesigned and miniaturized electronic subsystem that, together with a new RF proximity fuze, allow adding extra propellant for the dual-pulse rocket motor. The I-Derby ER also introduces a new, lighter weight, solid-state, software-controlled RF seeker developed inhouse by Rafael, which is reported to be based on that developed for the Tamir interceptor used in the Iron Dome. The new seeker is “SoftwareDefined”, enabling full flexibility by controlling every single functional parameter by software.

It allows to quickly adapting it to the adversary electronic warfare developments as well as to the new platform threats through new software

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The Gökdoğan (Peregrine) is the indigenous BVRAAM being developed under the Göktug project run by the Turkish TubitakSage Defense Industries Research and Development Institute since 2013. © Paolo Valpolini

The Gökdoğan BVRAAM is equipped with an Aselsan solid-state Ku-Band active RF seeker equipped with a mechanical gimbal antenna characterized by advanced countermeasure capability and data-link update. © Paolo Valpolini

releases. The I-Derby ER also features a trajectoryshaping capability; advanced algorithms in the onboard missile computer determine the optimal trajectory according to launch conditions and target behaviour, and a two-way communications capability based on Rafael’s Global Link software defined radio (SDR).

Gökdoğan The Gökdoğan (Peregrine) is the indigenous BVRAAM being developed under the Göktug project run by the Turkish Tubitak-Sage Defense Industries Research and Development Institute since 2013. Unveiled for the first time during the IDEF 2017 exhibition, the Gökdoğan is equipped with an Aselsan-provided solid-state Ku-Band active RF seeker equipped with a mechanical gimbal antenna characterized by advanced countermeasure capabilities and datalink update according to the Turkish institute.

Powered by a solid fuel dual pulse rocket motor, the Turkish BVRAAM is reported to have a range of 65 km. Missile production should be assigned to Roketsan.

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MICA NG In November 2018, the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) awarded MBDA the contract for the MICA NG (Missile d’Interception et de Combat Aérien Nouvelle Génération) programme to develop the next generation of the MICA missile. The MICA NG is intended as the replacement for MICA missiles currently in operational service with the French armed forces and exported to worldwide customers. In order to minimize the amount of adaptation required to operate the new system with existing platforms and launchers, the NG programme includes an extensive redesign of the current MICA family, while keeping the same aerodynamics, mass and centre of gravity. Maintaining the unique concept which was at the heart of the MICA, with two different configurations respectively equipped with radio frequency and infrared seekers in a single missile casing, the introduction of new technologies allows to keep pace with evolving threats. Utilizing a new double-pulse rocket motor that will provide additional energy to the missile at the end of its flight to improve endgame intercept, as well as a larger quantity of

propellant to increase the range thanks to a reduction of electronic components volume, the NG model will maintain the thrust vector control system and rail and ejection launching capability to ensure high level of manoeuvrability as well as flexibility of use. The new ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) Free MICA NG will come with new generation infrared and radiofrequency guidance sensors: in the latter case, it will be equipped with an AESA-based seeker being developed by Thales, which will replace the mechanically-gimballed AD4A active radar.

“Enabling smart detection strategies,” according to MBDA, the new AESA seeker is understood to provide enhanced all weather performances against reduced electromagnetic and infrared signature targets including unmanned air vehicles and small aircraft, as well as robust electronic protection capabilities. With a reduced active phased array due to the same 160 mm diameter as the current MICA missile, the NG model will be the first AESA-based seeker air-to-

air missile developed and built in Europe to enter into service with an Old Continent customer.

The ADSIM consortium between Safran and MBDA France develops the new infrared seeker, which “will use a matrix sensor allowing greater sensitivity”, without providing further details. As anticipated, MICA NG deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026 to arm the current and future versions of the Rafale combat aircraft.

Imaging Infra-Red missiles The introduction of imaging infrared (IIR) seekers which sensitivity provides long-range detection and better countermeasures has significantly improved the capabilities of SRAAMs. However their development and introduction into service in previous decades have pushed missile manufacturers to introduce new technologies to further improve their capabilities and integrate them in the aircraft system though helmetmounted sight and sensors, alongside data-

In November 2018, the DGA French Defence Procurement Agency awarded MBDA the contract for the MICA NG (Missile d’Interception et de Combat Aérien Nouvelle Génération) programme to develop the next generation of the MICA missile. © MBDA

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The new ITAR Free MICA NG will be available with respectively a new IIR and a new-generation RF AESA seeker. © MBDA

links to enlarge the operations envelope of these missiles.

AIM-9X Block II/II+ developments Described by the US Navy, as “a data-linkenabled, launch and leave, air combat munition that uses passive IR energy to acquire and track enemy air targets and complement the radar guided AMRAAM”, the AIM-9X versions continue the evolution of the AIM-9 family of missiles which initial production version (AIM-9B) entered operational use in 1956. A further evolution of the Block I which added full night/day employment, resistance to countermeasures, extremely high

The AIM-9X Block II/ II+ is currently subject to the Systems Improvement Programme that will introduce new hardware and software solutions to keep pace with obsolescence issues and evolutions in enemy countermeasures. © NAVAIR

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off-boresight acquisition and launch envelopes, greatly enhanced manoeuvrability, improved target acquisition ranges, the Block II, which achieved IOC in March 2015, added mainly a datalink, fuze enhancements and an ignition safety device, increased IR countermeasures resistance and a surface attack capability. Together with the most recent Block II+ variant, which was procured since 2017 to satisfy the requirements of the F-35 JSF embodying a reduced radar cross section, the AIM-9X features a guidance unit based on a mid-wave IR Staring Focal Plane Array (FPA) roll/ nod seeker assembly for detecting the target, an electronics unit that converts the detected target information to tracking and guidance command signals and a centre section containing the cryo-

Last February, Italy became the 28th AIM-9X international programme customer. The missile will equip its fleet of F-35As and F-35Bs. © NAVAIR

The latest Block 6 version of the MBDA AIM-132 ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) achieved its initial operational capability on Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft last April. © MBDA

engine, contact fuze device, two thermal batteries, and required harnesses and connectors. The AIM-9X Block II/II+ is today subjected to the Systems Improvement Programme (SIP) that will introduce new hardware and software solutions to pace with evolutions in enemy aircraft countermeasures technology, and redesign, develop and integrate components to solve obsolescence issues. The programme will also investigate insensitive munitions improvements and enhance anti-tamper and cyber security performances. In parallel, missile software improvements will be incrementally fielded to take advantage of improved hardware and updated intelligence. Being introduced with the Lot 21 production missiles, which contract was planned to be awarded in Q4 2021 and production deliveries completion planned for Q4 2024, the SIP III described activities are mainly focused on the inertial measurement unit, seeker dome and processor with parallel operational software development test and qualification. The follow-on

SIP IV programme, which risk reduction activities were launched in early 2021 and a contract is planned to be awarded in Q4 2024, is aimed at further updating and at maintaining required performances against increasingly challenging platforms. It will see the development of an advanced sensor replacement and electronic unit upgrades to address hardware obsolescence and processing improvements for the missile guidance system, which activities are expected to be completed together with software update in 2027. Last February, Italy became the 28th AIM9X international programme customer.

ASRAAM Block 6 Last 1st of April, the latest Block 6 version of the MBDA AIM-132 ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) achieved its initial operational capability (IOC) on Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft after been successfully integrated on the platform and delivered to the EDR | July/August 2022

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The new ASRAAM Block 6 version incorporates new and updated sub-systems, including a new generation seeker of increased pixel density and a built-in cryogenic cooling system. © MBDA

Last April, the Brazilian Air Force formally commissioned the first two serial production Saab F-39E Gripen jets, which are planned to be equipped with the IRIS-T, making the South American country the latest customer of this SRAAM. © Diehl Defence

service by the DE&S Weapon Operation Centre.

The Block 6 version has successfully passed its operational evaluation, demonstrating its exemplary operational performance with no extant issues, according to MBDA. This is the latest iteration of the weapon system designed specifically in the late 80s to meet RAF’s operational requirements, after the original programme involving the US and Germany fell apart. The resulting weapon performances have been attributed to a revolutionary design concept and state-of-the-art technology application. The 14

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ASRAAM’s high speed is achieved by means of a combination of low drag and rocket motor size.

By using a 166 mm diameter motor, compared with other missiles that use a 127 mm motor, the ASRAAM has more propellant and can maintain high speed throughout its flight time.

Featuring exceptional manoeuvrability thanks to a sophisticated control system using innovative body lift technology coupled with tail control, the ASRAAM provides the pilot with the ability to effectively engage targets from gun to near beyond visual range (BVR), while its maximum

The Python 5 is a fifth generation air-to-air missile providing the pilot engaging an enemy aircraft with a full-sphere launch capability from very short to beyond visual range. © Rafael

range provides the ability to passively home beyond the limits of visual range and well into the realm traditionally thought of as BVR. The current ASRAAM version (Block 4) is equipped with a staring FPA seeker that detects the whole target scene, producing images similar to monochrome TV pictures. The US-manufactured seeker was however designed by BAE Systems Dynamics (today MBDA) and transferred to the US as part of the original transatlantic workshare agreement. The seeker’s wide field of view allows the missile to be fired at very high off-boresight angles, having a lock-on capability, in either lockbefore- or lock-after-launch modes up to about 90° off-boresight. In 2017, A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet demonstrated an ASRAAM launch at a target beyond 90° on pilot shoulders. Developed under a contract awarded in September 2015 followed in August 2016 by a procurement deal for an additional stockpile of weapons to equip the RAF and Royal Navy F-35 fleet, the new ASRAAM Block 6 version is a fit, form and function replacement for the current in-service Block 4 version, integrated onto the Typhoon and the F-35B. The ASRAAM Block 4 is due to go out-of-service in 2025 when the Block 6 will achieve its in-service date on the

F-35B. Developed to meet national requirements and initially planned to be delivered in 2018, few information were so far provided on the new version, which incorporates new and updated sub-systems, including a new generation seeker of increased pixel density offering higher performance, and a built-in cryogenic cooling system. The new model should improve upon ASRAAM’s already leading performance in acquisition range, responsiveness, accuracy, agility, counter-measures resistance, and endgame performance, as well as system availability.

In addition to these enhancements, the new ASRAAM is ITAR free allowing the weapon system to be exported without the restrictions affecting the in-service Block 4 that features a US made seeker. This opens new markets for the weapon, which was already procured in the previous version by Australia and India, in particular into the Middle East, where the Block 6 is reported to have been selected by Qatar and Oman.

IRIS-T Last April, the Brazilian Air Force formally commissioned the first two serial production EDR | July/August 2022

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Saab F-39E Gripen jets, which are planned to be equipped with the IRIS-T, making the South American country the latest customer of this SRAAM. Developed as a six-nation consortium initiative led by Germany and including Italy, Sweden, Greece, Canada and Norway, with Bodenseewerk Geraetetechnik GmbH (BGT) (now Diehl Defence) as prime contractor, the IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) is characterized by an advanced aerodynamic design featuring four mid-to-aft body low aspect ratio strake fins, and an aligned cruciform rear actuator assembly (tail-controlled) with thrust vector control (TVC) vanes located over the motor exhaust nozzle section, which ensure an extremely high agility in both the air-to-air and the newest surfaceto-air application represented by the IRIS-T SLS solution. The missile is equipped with a roll-pitch all-aspect advanced mechanical scanning imaging infrared (IIR) homing seeker with a large look angle of ±90°, which together with advanced electronic countermeasures (Infrared Counter-Countermeasure (IRCCM) and Directional Infrared Counter-Countermeasure (DIRCCM)), target discrimination and flare suppression characteristics, and alongside an extreme close-in fight capability, ensure high survivability and target acquisition. Lock-on before launch (LOBL) and lock-on after launch (LOAL) capabilities provide for air-to-air target engagement at unclassified ranges out to 25 km, while predictive flight path tracking combined with LOAL enables the missile to engage targets in the rear hemisphere.

capability and a dual waveband Focal Plane Array (FPA) seeker, which together with sophisticated algorithms enable the acquisition of even small, low-signature targets in look-down, adverse background, and cloudy environments. In service and combat proven with five countries worldwide according to Rafael, the Python-5 combines a new dual-waveband imaging seeker (IR + CCD) together with uplink target data, advanced computer architecture, Inertial Navigation System (INS) based on fibre-optic gyroscope technology, IRCCM, and sophisticated flight control algorithms, which offer high probability of kill in various operational conditions together with dual-use for air-to-air and air defence applications, in the latter case as part of Spyder short- and medium-range air defence systems.

Bozdoğan The new Bozdoğan (Merlin) weapon system is the indigenous ASRAAM being developed by the Turkish Tubitak-Sage institute for the Turkish MoD. Also unveiled during the IDEF 2017 exhibition, the Bozdoğan, intended to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder series in the future, is equipped with a dual-colour IIR seeker designed and developed by Tubitak-Sage Institute, and characterized by off-boresight capability, along with advanced countermeasures. Equipped with TVC propulsion for superior maneuverability, the missile is reported to have a 25 km range.

Python 5 The Python 5 is a fifth generation air-to-air missile providing the pilot engaging an enemy aircraft with a full-sphere launch capability from very short to beyond visual range, according to Rafael. The Python-5’s full-sphere performance is achieved by a combination of high agility based on a unique airframe with 18 different control surfaces, LOAL 16

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The new Bozdoğan (Merlin) missile is the indigenous ASRAAM being developed by the Turkish Tubitak-Sage institute for the Turkish MoD. © Paolo Valpolini

Europe’s Future Combat Air Systems at Crossroads

By David Oliver

Team Tempest UK partners are driving forward with the concept and assessment phase of the FCAS programme. © BAE Systems

In June 2021, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a £ 250 million contract with BAE Systems on behalf of Team Tempest UK partners to drive forward the concept and assessment phase of its Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme which is expected to combine a core aircraft, referred to as ‘Tempest’, at the heart of a network of wider capabilities such as uncrewed aircraft, sensors, weapons and advanced data systems to form a next-generation capability designed to enter Royal Air Force (RAF) service from the mid-2030s.

E

arlier this year BAE Systems chose the California-based company Wind River to support the technology demonstration work under the RAF’s Tempest programme.

The initiative aims to combine advanced technical capabilities such as artificial intelligence (AI) to create opportunities, including the ability to use uncrewed aircraft and swarming technology for

controlling drones. The era of software-defined everything is pushing the pace of innovation and transforming market segments ranging from aerospace to industrial, defence to medical, and networking to automotive.

Wind River will provide its VxWorks 653 platform and other safety certification evidence packages. A global leader in delivering software EDR | July/August 2022

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A pictorial showing a Tempest in flight over London. © BAE Systems

for intelligent connected systems, Wind River offers a comprehensive, edge-to-cloud software portfolio designed to address the challenges and opportunities critical infrastructure companies face when evolving and modernising their systems as they work to realise the full potential of Internet of Things.

The UK FCAS programme was boosted by the announcement in December 2021 that the UK and Japan had signed a Memorandum of Cooperation enabling both nations to pursue

joint technologies and the two countries also announced an intention to develop a future fighter jet engine demonstrator as part of their partnership.

Work on the joint engine demonstrator started earlier this year, with the UK investing an initial £ 30 million in planning, digital designs and innovative manufacturing developments. A further £ 200 million of UK funding is expected to go towards developing a full-scale demonstrator power system, some of which will take part at Rolls-Royce’s Filton facility in Bristol.

Over the next four years, the UK is investing more than £ 2 billion into its major national and international endeavour to design the FCAS programme. In parallel, through its F-X programme, Japan is looking to develop a future fighter aircraft to a similar timescale to replace the F-2 aircraft. This work will be led by industry from the two countries, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and IHI in Japan, and Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems in the UK.

A pictorial showing the concept of Tempest’s swarming technologies. © Crown Copyright

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The UK MoD is also supporting Japan in the delivery of their Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) programme. As part of Japan’s fiscal year 2022 defence budget, the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a JNAAM with the United Kingdom. Japan’s Ministry of Defence has secured US$ 3 million

The concept of Tempest operating with the unmanned Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA). © RAF

to fund preparation costs related to air-launch tests of a prototype of the JNAAM for FY 2022, starting in April.

the development of a new fighter radar named Jaguar, to equip the UK’s Tempest and Japan’s F-3 future combat aircraft.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Strengthening our partnerships in the IndoPacific is a strategic priority and this commitment with Japan, one of our closest security partners in Asia, is a clear example of that.

The radar will use universal radio frequency sensor technology which could enable the Armed Forces to better detect future threats from air, land and sea, quickly and accurately locating targets and denying surveillance technology operated by our adversaries. Two demonstrators will be built within the project, one in each country, with the work and learning shared to maximise national expertise.

“Designing a brand-new combat air system with a fighter aircraft at its heart is a highly ambitious project so working with like-minded nations is vital. Building on the technological and industrial strengths of our two countries, we will be exploring a wide-ranging partnership across next-generation combat air technologies.”

Strengthening the defence ties between the two countries further, in March 2022 the UK MoD announced a five-year joint project between Leonardo UK and Japanese firms, for

International partnership remains at the heart of the UK’s approach to combat air, and during a trip to New Delhi in April 2022, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the two countries were going to strengthen their defence and security ties, and partner on the development of fighter jet technology. This statement could refer to an inclusion of India to the Tempest programme, already joined by Japan, Italy, and Sweden.

The Franco-German-Spanish Air Combat System of the Future (SCAF) programme is moving at a slower pace than the Team Tempest FCAS. © Airbus

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A concept of the European New Generation Fighter (NGF) for which Dassault has blamed Germany for delays in the programme. © Dassault

Meanwhile, while the French-German-Spanish Système de Combat Aérien Futur (SCAF) programme is still facing serious challenges, on the positive side France’s Directorate General of Armament (DGA) announced on 10 January 2022 that it had undertaken a ground test of a prototype engine for the New Generation Fighter (NGF) aircraft under the Turenne programme, using a powerplant derived from the Safran Aircraft Engines M88 afterburning turbofan currently fitted to the Dassault Rafale combat aircraft.

However, in March, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier said: “I accept to be leader if I have the leverage to be leader. We have made enough efforts. Some do know how to do flight commands, others do not”, frustrated at the lack

Germany is at odds with the SCAF partners on the question of arming the system’s remote carriers. © Airbus

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of progress in talks with Airbus for the European next generation fighter.

Although Germany and Italy are engaged in two competing FCAS projects, with the SCAF programme on the one hand and the Tempest on the other, some analysts see the purchase of F-35s by Germany as threat to the later project “It is a regrettable signal when European defence contracts are awarded to non-European companies”, said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury about purchase of F-35s by Germany and the French and Spanish defence ministers have expressed concern that it would cause further delays and disagreements in SCAF programme.

A mockup of the four-nation Eurodrone MALE RPAS was unveiled at the 2018 ILA Berlin Airshow. © David Oliver

Although it is not clear how much of Germany’s intent to invest € 100 billion on defence will be sent on the SCAF project, Germany’s new defence minister, Christine Lambrecht has stressed continued German support for the joint programme.

However, it took several months of intense negotiations before France, Germany and Spain finally found an agreement on the € 1 billion Phase 1B, a later stage dedicated to the development of a NGF aircraft demonstrator by 2026, in May 2022.

In January 2022 the head of Dassault Aviation SA, Eric Trappier warned talks with the German arm of Airbus SE have been bogged down by a power struggle over “division of labour” that could threaten the project. Five year after the project was launched, Trappier said, “We still have difficulties with Airbus. It’s not always easy to negotiate with the Germans.”

Trappier contrasted the disagreements over the NGF with the recent agreement to launch the Airbus-led Franco, German, Italian and Spanish Eurodrone Medium-Altitude, LongRange Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE

RPAS), whose flight controls will be built by Dassault. In March 2022 Airbus selected an engine manufactured by General Electric’s Italian subsidiary Avio over an offer from Safran to equip the future Eurodrone.

Should the SCAF collaboration founder, Dassault retains a plan B, Trappier said, without giving details. While he ruled out a collaboration with the UK, saying talks with that country’s suppliers on the future European fighter have ended, he said Airbus does not share his vision of how industry should be organised to develop the NGF. A further issue for Germany is the approach it takes to part of the SCAF programme. The crewed combat aircraft element of the programme is complemented by what are termed ‘remote carriers’ which will have characteristics similar to those of an uninhabited combat air vehicle. Given that the SCAF will not enter service until around 2040, Berlin still has time to make a decision as to whether or not these platforms will be armed as France and Spain have specified.

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Germany is also at odds with its Eurodrone partners. In April 2021 the Bundestag’s budget committee included as a requirement for approving the project that “no ammunition may be purchased for the Eurodrone system, and there will be no tactical weapons training for Eurodrone system operators”.

need for a European cloud, in order to be able to deploy interconnected air, land, and sea systems of systems. From this point of view, he said, “the SCAF programme is not just about developing a Sixth generation aircraft: it is also about creating a whole communication infrastructure.”

In May, the former CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, Dirk Hoke took part in a webinar organised by the European Institute of Communication. On subject of the SCAF project, Dirk Hoke said that in the defence field, development of concepts like “combat cloud” and “multi-domain operations” made it critical to step up in digital applications to aerospace. He claimed the point was to be able to compete with the F-35 and its advanced communications systems. For this reason, the SCAF, including the NGF, the Eurodrone and other associated systems would benefit from modern product lifecycle management systems, such as Dassault Système 3DX or Siemens TeamCenter.

Meanwhile, Italy has welcomed Germany’s F-35 purchase because of the workload it brings to the F-35 Final Assembly and Check-Out line operated by Leonardo and Lockheed Martin.

It has been speculated that this could result in further incentives for Paris to support a merger between the two FCAS initiatives, a move that Italy has long advocated. In November 2021 Italy’s Air Force Chief of Staff, General Luca Goretti, told members of the Italian parliamentary defence committee, “It is natural that these two realities will merge into one, because investing huge financial resources in two equivalent programmes is unthinkable.”

Hoke said that there is a large gap in the digital field between China and the US on the one hand, and Europe on the other hand, and most notably in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. While programmes such as the SCAF will rely on sovereign military networks to fill this gap, Dirk Hoke insisted on the critical

Such a development may boost Italian-German co-operation, but Trappier has ruled out the prospect of working with the UK, which is forging ahead on the Tempest FCAS project to fly a new fighter aircraft in 2035, and whether the Tempest Team would approve of Germany, France and Spain becoming equal partners remains highly uncertain.

Eurodrone is being developed by a consortium of Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo. © Airbus

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The manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) is well depicted by this formation of Lockheed Martin F-22 and F-35 alongside the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned platform. © US DoD

Manned-Unmanned Teaming with present and future combat aircraft

By Luca Peruzzi

T

he development of unmanned aerial systems and other relevant technologies including artificial intelligence or AI, data and cloud networking, autonomy control system and system/weapon/sensors miniaturization and networking, as well as the need to increase the numbers of the shrinking fleet of costly manned platforms, have pushed numerous armed forces and industries to actively experimenting with mannedunmanned teaming (MUM-T). The deployment of uncrewed, “low cost” and “attritable” but not “disposable” - unless requested by mission goals or manned platform survival -

combat air vehicles aside manned platforms maximises their value as force multiplier, enhancing lethality and survivability in highly contested airspace. Although the introduction of autonomy technologies and artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the all-domain operations, the rules of engagement for new autonomous platforms and weapon systems are developing through stringent ethical consideration and evaluation, where the manin-the-loop continues to play an important role. This article wants to give an overall, nonexhaustive analysis of MUM-T programmes and activities on both sides of the Atlantic.

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US main MUM-T programmes One of the three US Air Force’s Vanguard rapidly fielding technology programmes, Skyborg is an architecture suite designed for autonomous attritable airframes which will enable, according to the service, to posture, produce and sustain multi-mission sorties at sufficient tempo to thwart adversary attempts at quick, decisive action in contested and highly contested environments. First revealed in 2019 and developed by Leidos company, the Skyborg Autonomy Core System or ACS has been validated in a multimonth test campaign in 2021, during which it was successfully integrated into two different unmanned platforms, the Kratos UTAP-22 Mako and the General Atomics – Aerospace Systems MQ-20, demonstrating the portability of the Government-owned autonomy core to enable its future integration on different platforms. A key campaign milestone was the participation in the “Orange Flag 21-2” exercise, US premier large force multi-domain test event conducted in June 2021, where the Skyborg ACS was integrated into one MQ-20, making the first flight testing on an unmanned vehicle operated autonomously in such complex event. Carried out by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), ac-

Successfully tested on board the General Atomics MQ-20, the Skyborg Autonomy Core System (ACS) consists of autonomy architecture and software, enabling machine-machine and manned-unmanned teaming. © US DoD

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cording to service documentation, Skyborg is organized into three main lines of effort (LOEs). LOE 1 develops, demonstrates, and prototypes the ACS consisting of Skyborg autonomy architecture and software, enabling machine-machine and manned-unmanned teaming, while also ensuring openness, modularity, and expandability of the Skyborg autonomy mission systems suite.

The ACS LOE also develops, demonstrates, and prototypes the hardware components and Open Architecture standards needed to allow modular sensor, communication, and other payload integration into the Skyborg autonomy and vehicle architectures in systems integration laboratories and platforms. LOE 2 develops, demonstrates, and prototypes new low cost attritable vehicle concepts and technologies for expeditionary mass generation, including sortie generation employment concepts. LOE 3 conducts analysis and experimentation of concepts of operations and concepts of employment for attritable, autonomous, unmanned systems and assesses the openness, modular capabilities and integration of sensors and mission systems. In August 2021, both Kratos and General Atomics received a contract to further support the Skyborg integration into respectively the XQ-58A Valkyrie and

In August 2021 both Kratos and General Atomics received a contract to further support the Skyborg integration into respectively the XQ-58A Valkyrie, here depicted, and the MQ-20 Avenger unmanned platforms, alongside the system experimentation in large-force exercises. © US DoD

the MQ-20 Avenger unmanned platforms, alongside the system experimentation in large-force exercises. These additional contracts were aimed to transition Skyborg to a programme of record in 2023, funding permitting. The ACS is also planned according to USAFRL to be used experimentally from 2022 on Boeing’s stealth Airpower Teaming System UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle), being developed for the Australian Department of Defence, as later explained.

Interestingly, in March this year, the AFRL awarded a contract to Blue Force Technologies company to develop an unmanned air vehicle that supports adversary air training missions, which is to incorporate advancements pioneered through the Skyborg effort.

In December 2021, the Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall announced the service is working on new concept programmes for

MUM-T between unmanned platforms and respectively the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider long-range strike bomber and principally the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) advanced aircraft, but also potentially with the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

The US Navy is pursuing different high-performances unmanned platform programmes for service on aircraft carriers. Among the MUM-T efforts including unmanned combat air systems, in early 2020 Boeing announced that the Navy’s Warfare Development Command successfully conducted a demonstration of two autonomously controlled EA-18G Growlers by a third aircraft during the Navy Warfare Development Command’s annual Fleet Experiment. The experiment involved the Growlers acting as unmanned systems

Last November the Orange Flag exercise involved aircraft such as the F-35A Lightning II and two General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger drones, which carried the Skyborg autonomy core system for a flight test that lasted several hours. © US DoD

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under the control of a third Growler to prove the effectiveness of F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircrew to remotely control fighter and attack platforms from the cockpit. Involving twenty one missions in four sorties, the demonstration provided Boeing and the Navy the opportunity to analyse the collected data and decide where to make investments in future technologies. The US Navy continues to accelerate the development of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Family of Systems (FoS) to provide advanced, carrier-based power projection capabilities that extend the range of its aircraft carriers. The NGAD FoS will replace the F/A-18E/F Block II aircraft as they begin to reach end of service life in the 2030s and leverage Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) in order to provide increased lethality and survivability. The F/A-XX is the strike fighter component of the NGAD FoS that will be the “Quarterback” of the MUM-T concept, according to the service, directing multiple tactical platforms at the leading edge of the battlespace. The F/A-XX began the Concept Refinement Phase in FY 2021, and it remains on schedule.

Australia’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat Last May, the Australian Government announced it will invest additional AUD 454 million in the Loyal Wingman - Advanced Development Programme. Since 2017, under the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) programme, the Australian DoD invested more than AUD 150 million to support the joint venture between the RAAF and Boeing Defence Australia leading a local industrial team which designed, developed and produced the Loyal Wingman unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) which was recently named MQ-28A Ghost Bat. In just four years the joint venture has successfully manufactured and flown the first Australianbuilt military combat aircraft in 50 years, which can make the programme a serious competitor in key export markets, according to Australian Government. Unveiled in May 2020, the MQ-28A aircraft first flight took place in February 2021, just two years and three months from the project launch. A second aircraft has joined the flight test programme, with a third aircraft being readied for flight-testing later in

The Australian DoD invested to support the joint venture between the RAAF and Boeing Defence Australia leading a local industrial team which designed, developed and produced the Loyal Wingman combat unmanned air vehicle, recently named MQ-28A Ghost Bat. © Australian DoD

In addition to the three Loyal Wingman prototypes for concept demonstration purposes, the investment of the Australian Government announced last May will add seven MQ-28As for a total of ten aircraft and will fasttrack the induction into service of the Ghost Bat in 2024-2025. © Australian DoD

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In January 2021 an industrial team led by Spirit AeroSystems was awarded a £ 30 million contract to rapidly design and manufacture a technology demonstrator of the UK’s first uncrewed combat air system under the Mosquito three-year full-scale vehicle flight-test programme. © UK Crown copyright

2022. Over 70% of each aircraft is sourced, designed and manufactured in Australia.

The investment will see the programme expansion to additional local companies, alongside international partners and allies, as well as the establishment of a production facility in Toowoomba near Brisbane and an acceleration of activities this year focused on sensor and mission system capabilities.

In addition to the three prototypes for concept demonstration purposes, the investment will add seven additional MQ28As for a total of ten aircraft and will fast track the induction into service of the Ghost Bat in 2024-2025. The Airpower Teaming System as it is called by the manufacturer, provides fighter-like performance with an airframe of 11.7 meters length and able to fly more than 3,700 km. The UCAV has a modular and interchangeable nose section that can accommodate integrated sensor packages to support different types of missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, communication relay and both kinetic and non-kinetic strike capabilities. The programme is a pathfinder for integrating autonomy and artificial intelligence according to the RAAF.

UK’s Project Mosquito and swarming drones First revealed in July 2019 by the RAF Rapid Capabilities Office and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Project Mosquito is geared at developing and proving a technology demonstrator as part of the wider Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) programme that, according to the announcement, aims at offering additional capability, deploying unmanned platforms alongside fighters jets like the F-35, the Typhoon and next generation Tempest, offering increased protection, survivability and information for the manned aircraft, and could even provide an unmanned combat air ‘fleet’ in the future.

Interestingly, in July 2021 speaking at the Air and Space Power Association’s Global Air Chiefs conference about the wide Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS), the RAF Air Chief Marshall Sir Mike Wigston said that, “in partnership with international allies like Italy and Sweden we are taking a revolutionary approach, looking at a game-changing mix of swarming drones, and mixed formations of uncrewed combat aircraft as well as next-

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To be launched from airfields, Airbus A400M ‘mother ships’ or aircraft carriers, the Mosquito is planned to fly in the UK air space by the end of 2023. The Mosquito UCAV together with Alvina swarming drones will support the new generation Tempest combat air platform. © UK Crown copyright

generation piloted aircraft like Tempest,” opening the way to potential common programmes for uncrewed combat aircraft and drones with the mentioned and other international allies.

As part of Project Mosquito Phase 2, in January 2021 the industrial team led by UK Spirit AeroSystems as prime contractor and

France, Germany and Spain, the FCAS/SCAF partner countries, and their respective industries, are developing the Remote Carrier (RC) elements, which combined together with the optionally piloted New Generation Fighter (NGF) and the networked Combat Cloud (CC) form the Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS). © MBDA

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airframe designer together with Northrop Grumman UK (artificial intelligence, networking, human-machine interface) and Intrepid Minds (avionics and power), was awarded a £ 30 million contract to rapidly design and manufacture under a threeyear full-scale vehicle flight-test programme a technology demonstrator of the UK’s first uncrewed combat air system (UCAS)

According to the teaming agreement between Airbus Defence and Space and MBDA, the latter focuses on the development of expendable Remote Carriers while Airbus DS focuses on reusable ones. © MBDA

adjunct to the current F-35, Typhoon and next generation Tempest platforms. Geared primarily at increasing the numbers of the service’s combat aviation forces, the uncrewed combat aircraft is designed to fly at high-speed alongside fighter jets, armed with missiles, surveillance and electronic warfare technology to target and shoot down enemy aircraft and survive against surfaceto-air missiles. To be launched from airfields, Airbus A400M ‘mother ships’ or aircraft carriers, the Mosquito is planned to fly in the UK air space by the end of 2023, without specifying if the actual first flight will take place earlier in foreign skies. Speaking at an International Institute for Strategic Studies virtual event in 2021, the then UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, said that by 2030 a Royal Air Force (RAF) tactical formation today being made of eight Typhoons will be composed of two Typhoon fighter jets, ten Mosquito uncrewed fighter aircraft and 100 Alvina swarming uncrewed aerial vehicles, “because that is the way of generating significant mass, and you can see that playing out both in the land and maritime domains as well.” The future RAF is expected to be made of Tempest, F-35,

The future RAF is expected to be made of Tempest, F-35, Mosquito, Alvina and Protector, 80% of which will be uncrewed or remotely piloted platforms. In 2021 Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston announced that the RAF drone test squadron “has proved beyond doubt the disruptive and innovative utility of swarming drones under our Alvina programme”. Following two earlier phases of the UK’s Alvina programme, a £ 2.5 million contract for Phase 3 was awarded in January 2019 for an Integrated Concept Evaluation activity to explore the technical feasibility and military utility of a swarm of UAVs operating collaboratively, which was successfully tested in January 2021 with the largest collaborative military focused evaluation involving twenty swarming drones in the UK. Separate to the Mosquito being developed for the RAF, the Royal Navy is reported to be advancing its loyal wingman called Vixen.

FCAS/SCAF France, Germany and Spain, the Future Combat Air System/Système de Combat Aérien Futur (FCAS/SCAF) partner countries, and their respective industries, EDR | July/August 2022

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are developing the Remote Carrier (RC) elements, which combined together with the optionally piloted New Generation Fighter (NGF) and the networked Combat Cloud (CC) form the Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS). The RCs development is conducted by Airbus Defense and Space as prime, MBDA France, MBDA Germany, and the Spanish SATNUS Technologies joint venture consisting of Sener Aeroespacial, GMV and Tecnobit-Grupo Oesia companies.

The industrial team is developing a family of swarming and networked air vehicles with sizes ranging from hundred kilograms, for expendable ones, to several tonnes, for the more sophisticated and reusable loyal wingman type. According to the teaming agreement between Airbus and MBDA, the former focuses on the development of reusable RCs while the latter is working on expendable ones. Key technologies being developed include AI-supported cooperative algorithms, robust and fail-safe data communication, miniaturized sensors, new drive technologies, GPS-independent navigation, scalable means of action, low observability solutions and swarming technologies. If Dassault Aviation and Airbus will soon sign the agreement already reached by the countries, RC technology demonstrators could fly in 2027-2028 but this will depend on development path and

timing. An initial operational capability for RCs could be reached in the 2030s to initially complement fourth-generation fighters, but this will depend on national requirements and modifications to the platforms and their mission suite. The FCAS’s MUM-T concept of operations (CONOPS) and associated requirements, which define the requirements both for RC’s airframe and for control system capabilities, are being investigated as part of the development path up to the technology demonstrator flying phase. The RCs are being envisaged, as displayed during Le Bourget air show 2019 and subsequent events, to support manned platforms in airto-air and air-to-ground missions, including the naval domain, alongside intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) as well as the mapping of the electronic order of battle, together with the jamming/deception, suppression and destruction of enemy air defence. MBDA is using all its experience and know-how developed with deeper strike weapon systems such as the Storm Shadow and Taurus, as well as the new family of Spear, SmartGlider and SmartCruiser smart connected weapons based on national programmes, to further evolve these concepts in RCs which development depends on the MUM-T platform selected types. MBDA has so far unveiled its RC100 and RC200 remote carrier concepts in 2019 but the final RCs

The Turkish Baykar Technology company’s UCAV Kizilelma (Red Apple in Turkish), is expected to fly in 2023, according to the manufacturer. © Baykar Technologies

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could be different and a larger basket of solutions could be envisaged including, as already unveiled, a short range missile for intercepting air-to-air missiles launched against the protected platform. The much larger RC under development by Airbus and which early mock-up was presented in 2019, requires to be air-launched by transport aircraft such as the A400M, or take off from runways. No information has been provided yet on the loyal wingman type UCAV.

Turkish Baykar Kizilelma The Turkish Baykar Technology company unveiled its UCAV design in July 2021. Initially known with the Turkish acronym MIUS, for unmanned combat aircraft system, renamed Kizilelma (Red Apple in Turkish) in March 2022, the platform is expected to fly in 2023, according to the manufacturer. The concept and model unveiled by Baykar Technologies shows a single turbofan engine-powered CUAV with a stealth design characterized by

a delta wing and canard configuration with a fuselage airframe capable to accommodate a weapon bay. Although no official data were delivered about platform dimensions, the manufacturer provided information on main capabilities. With a 6,000 kg maximum take-off weight and the capability to take-off and land not only from short land runways but also claimed from through-deck naval platforms such as the LHD Anadolu, the future flagship of the Turkish Navy, the Kizilelma is indicated to feature fully automatic takeoff and landing together with a mission suite including an active electronically scanned array radar, advanced electro-optical cameras and electronic warfare systems, alongside a line- and beyond-line-of-sight communications suite. With a maximum 1,500 kg payload capacity, the Kizilelma is indicated to be capable to reach 0.6 Mach cruise speed and an operational altitude of 11,550 meters with an endurance of 5 hours and a mission radius of 926 km, without declaring the mission payload.

The concept and model unveiled by Baykar Technologies of the Kizilelma UCAV shows a single turbofan engine-powered platform with stealth design characterized by a delta wing and canard configuration, with a fuselage airframe capable to accommodate a weapon bay. © Baykar Technologies

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Germany’s Renewed Commitment to NATO

By David Oliver

The A400M tactical transport is one of the Luftwaffe’s aircraft that suffers from low serviceability. © David Oliver

At one of the first press conference after his election, Germany’s new Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized these goals. “The trans-Atlantic relationship and our cooperation as part of NATO remain steadfast,” he said. “We commit to a community of democracies across the globe and I am very grateful to President Biden for emphasizing the importance of multilateralism and, at the same time, we are committed to what unites particular nations: the idea of freedom, the rule of law, democracy and respect for human rights.”

However, in recent years the Luftwaffe’s fleet of A400M transport planes were unavailable for deployment due to repairs, and other equipment including fighter jets, tanks and ships, was outdated and in some cases not fully operational because of bad planning or shortage of spare parts and maintenance problems. Also some air force pilots were unable to train because too many aircraft were being updated or repaired.

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I

n 2020 military spending fell by 1.4 percent and upon taking office in December 2021, Chancellor Scholz and the new coalition had made no proper commitment regarding increasing military expenditure, as it was only said that 3 percent of the country’s GDP would be invested in diplomacy, development and defence.

The war in Ukraine, however, changed the dynamic in Berlin, and Germany soon became one of the main drivers of Europe’s rising military budgets.

2 percent of its annual economic output on defence. Germany is now expected to dedicate roughly € 100 billion on military investments in 2022, while its entire defence budget for 2021 was around € 47 billion.

Scholz also announced on 14 March his government’s plan to purchase 35 Lockheed F-35A Lightning II aircraft in order to replace its ageing Tornado fleet in its nuclear delivery role. Germany will also buy 15 Eurofighters to replace the Tornado ECRs in the electronic warfare role.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz first announced on 27 February 2022 that his country would sharply increase defence spending to more than 2 percent of its economic output, an effort which, ironically, Donald Trump and others had failed to impose on Berlin previously. “We need planes that fly, ships that sail, and soldiers who are optimally equipped for their missions,” Scholz said at the time, vowing that Germany would in the future adhere to the NATO goal of spending

“It is a regrettable signal when European defence contracts are awarded to nonEuropean companies”, said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury commenting the purchase of F-35 jets by Germany, and during a meeting between the French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly and her Spanish counterpart Margarita Robles, the ministers both mentioned their concern as to the pervasive delays and disagreements in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) The Lockheed F-35A Lightning II will replace the Luftwaffe’s Tornados in the nuclear delivery role. © Bundeswehr

Germany’s F-35A’s will be assembled at the Italian F-35 Final Assembly and Check-Out line operated by Leonardo and Lockheed Martin in Cameri, Piedmont. © Italian Air Force

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programme following Germany’s request to acquire the F-35. In an effort to assuage French concerns, Germany’s new defence minister, Christine Lambrecht echoed Scholz in stressing continued German support for the joint FCAS programme.

The F-35 purchase was also a major setback for Boeing whose F/A-18 was favoured by former German defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to replace the Tornado.

The Bundeswehr had previously announced that it would replace the current fleet of 93 Tornados with a combination of 30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to perform the dual-capable aircraft (DCA) nuclear delivery role, 15 EA18G Growlers to replace the Tornado ECRs and up to 90 additional Eurofighter Typhoons, which will not only replace the Tornado IDS in the conventional strike and reconnaissance roles but also the older Tranche 1 Eurofighters in Luftwaffe service. Two key political factors had shaped what, in many ways, should have been a straightforward decision for Germany. In January 2022 Boeing issued a request for information to more than 10 German companies to solicit bids as part of its F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler offering to the Luftwaffe.

An additional 15 Eurofighters will be acquired to replace the Luftwaffe’s Tornado ECR fleet in the electronic warfare role. © Bundeswehr

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However, defence analysts have seen the purchase of F-35s by Germany as a good signal for German-Italian cooperation because of the workload it brings to the Italian F-35 Final Assembly and Check-Out line operated by Leonardo and Lockheed Martin in Cameri, Piedmont.

Following Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ announcement of a € 100 billion investment in defence, the Luftwaffe now appears to be set to be the biggest beneficiary of this special fund, with around € 40 billion for it alone.

In September 2020 the Bundeswehr wanted to start a new competition for a heavy transport helicopter after finding that offers from Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division for the CH-47F Chinook and the CH-53K King Stallion, respectively, were too expensive. The two companies had delivered their initial proposals for the programme, aimed at replacing Germany’s ageing fleet of 70 Sikorsky CH-53G helicopters, in January 2020. The surprise decision halted an acquisition race that was scheduled to see a contract awarded in 2021. A request for a second proposal was expected by the end of

The Luftwaffe’s fleet of Sikorsky CH-53G heavy assault transport helicopters, the first of which was delivered in 1979, will be replaced. © David Oliver

that year. On 24 April 2022 it was announced that Germany will buy 60 CH-47F Chinook heavy transport helicopters from Boeing worth around € 5 billion as it upgrades its military armed forces. The helicopters could be delivered in 2025/26 at the earliest.

of operating in non-permissive environments in the coming decade.

However now, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the hesitation about arming the UAVs has been overcome. The German authorities have determined to arm the UAVs that it will lease from Israel with precisionguided missiles also manufactured in Israel.

Arming the UAVs will cost an estimated € 152 million.

Germany has yet to address the Luftwaffe’s lack of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Germany already operates several models of reconnaissance drones, including the German-made EMC Aladin close-range battlefield mini-UAV, the Airbus Defence and Germany’s new defence investment Space KZO tactical UAV, and the Israeli-made could be the impetus to solve one of its Heron 1 medium-altitude, long-range UAV. protracted programmes, the Taktisches However, none of these are armed. In 2020, Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS), its future air plans to acquire armed Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron TP UAVs failed through Germany’s long-standing impasse over the introduction of armed UAVs that meant that roles that could have been handed off to remotely operated systems had until then been met by crewed platforms.

It has also meant that the armed forces have built up no experience of armed UAV operations to help inform decision-making and planning. The arming of Heron UAVs could have be seen as a first step for the Bundeswehr to lay the groundwork for the introduction of After a protected four-year competition, the Boeing CH-47F Chinook has additional UAV platforms capable been selected to replace the Luftwaffe’s CH-53G fleet. © David Oliver EDR | July/August 2022

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The Airbus D&S KZO high-speed tactical UAV is operated by the German Army. © David Oliver

and missile defense (AMD) system. In 2015, Germany decided to procure the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), a joint missile defence project of the United States, Germany, and Italy originally designed to replace its Patriot system, but this system was then abandoned.

Currently the Bundeswehr is equipped with Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries that were ordered before the end of the Cold War and have been in service since 1989.

The medium-range Patriot system serves to protect theatre of operations, troops, military

bases and population centres. Over the last 20 years, some of the German Patriot batteries have been gradually decommissioned, while others have been upgraded. Since early 2013, the Luftwaffe has been operating twelve Patriot batteries, with additional two batteries for training, with PAC-3 upgrade.

The batteries have dual capabilities for air defence to counter aircraft, helicopters and UAVs within a range of 68 km, and for missile defence to intercept short-range ballistic missiles up to 1,000 km within a range of around 15-45 km at altitudes of up to 20 km.

However, the economic viability of Germany’s

Airbus Defence and Space operate five IAI Heron 1 medium-altitude, long-range UAVs for the Luftwaffe. © Bundeswehr

36

EDR | July/August 2022

Patriot batteries is diminishing, they were planned to be decommissioned between 2020 and 2025. With no replacement in view, in June 2019 the Budget Committee of the German Parliament approved the upgrade of the remaining Patriot air defence systems to Configuration 3+, currently the most modern available, at a total cost of around € 120 million.

Then on 28 March 2022 the German Ministry of Defense announced that it was to acquire Israel’s Arrow 3 anti-missile system to enable the country to equip itself with an anti-ballistic missile shield. The Arrow 3 is jointly funded, developed and produced by IAI in Israel and Boeing in the United States. The system provides exo-atmospheric interception of ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles carrying nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads. Its ability to reach an altitude of up to 100 km means it can also intercept missiles able to leave the atmosphere. The range of the Arrow 3 system of approximately 2,400 km means it can be stretched over neighbouring countries implying that Germany could play a key role in the security of Europe. The systems would be set up in three locations in Germany and the “shielded” countries could include the Baltic States, Poland and even Romania, a factor which would likely

Germany is to order the Arrow 3 anti-missile system manufactured

by IAI and Boeing to replace its Patriot surface-to-air missile systems. © IDF

offer huge political leverage to Berlin in the region. The installation of such a purchase would cost Germany some € 2 billion and the anti-ballistic missile system could enter into service in 2025.

Although the Luftwaffe is to receive the largest amount of the new defence budget plan, there are several programmes that will be of benefit to the German Navy including the development of Type 212 submarines and the future naval strike missile, the acquisition of new NH-90 Sea Lion and Sea Tiger helicopters, three Class 424 Auxiliary, General Intelligence ships and the refurbishment of oiler vessels as well as the modernisation of minehunter vessels’ systems. It is not clear as to whether the new defence funding includes the € 1.43 billion contract signed in 2021 for five Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft to replace the German Navy’s P-3 Orion fleet from 2024.

For a long time Germany maintained a policy of refusing to send weapons into conflict zones, although it has sold them to countries in the Middle East, but it is now sending antitank rockets, surface-to-air missiles and other equipment to Ukraine while bolstering its own armed forces to the greater extent than at any time since the end of the Cold War.

Five Boeing P-8A Poseidon multi-role maritime aircraft have been ordered to replace the German Navy’s P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft. © Boeing

EDR | July/August 2022

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