11 minute read
Bofors
with TEBER-82 laser guidance kits, L-UMTAS laser guided anti-tank missiles, CIRIT 70mm (2.75in) laser guided missiles and 70mm CAT-70 unguided rockets. Other features include optional in-flight refuelling, a ‘latest generation’ Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) application, a greater than eight hour endurance and a four hour timeon-station with a four missile war load at 400nm (741nm) from base.
Leonardo Mc-27J
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Last but not least, Leonardo’s aircraft division has, over time and not least through the merger with Alenia Aermacchi, developed the MC-27J. As its designation suggests, the type is based on Leonardo’s C-27J tactical transport aircraft and takes the form of a multi-mission capability that is built around a modular roll-on/-off (RoRo) architecture to maximise role flexibility. Missions envisaged for the type include cargo carrying, basic/enhanced command and control and ISR (C2ISR) together with a basic/enhanced gunship capability. In order, the MC-27J cargo configuration mimics that of the standard C-27J, while the basic C2ISR fit - a ventral EO/IR imaging turret/s and a palletised cargo-bay ISR and fire-control (ISR-FC) console - provides persistent area monitoring and mission oversight and co-ordination capabilities. The enhanced ISR-C2 configuration adds battlefield communications/video gateway and enhanced multi-intelligence collection and monitoring facilities to the baseline C2ISR fit, while the basic gunship configuration installs a GAU-23 Bushmaster 30mm cannon. Last but not least, the enhanced gunship package adds a precision guided munition (PGM) launch pallet to the Bushmaster and ISRFC provision.
In its full-up state (and as originally briefed), the MC-27J is flown by a crew of five (pilot, co-pilot, two weapon system operators and a GAU-23/PGM gunner) and features a self-defence suite; optional in-flight refuelling; a communications suite which includes a Ku-band (12.5-18GHz) satellite communications capability and a LOS full motion video datalink; GAU-23 and PGM launch pallets; the ISR-FC console pallet; a ‘Spartan View’ sensor fit (made-up of Star SAFIRE 380-HD and MX-15HD EO/ IR imaging turrets); a SAR/inverse SAR/ GMTI surveillance radar; a communications intelligence (COMINT) capability, a radar band electronic support/electronic intelligence (ES/ELINT) system and provision for ‘special payloads’.
Looking at the GAU-23 and ISR-FC
The armed ISR variant of Airbus’s C295 transport aircraft features four underwing hardpoints for the carriage of weapons.
Head-on view of the C295 showing under-wing hard points and nosemounted EO/IR sensor turret.
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Royal Jordanian Air Force
Inside a Royal Jordanian Air Force converted AC235, looking at the the side-mounted 30mm M230LF automatic cannon.
console pallets in more detail, the GAU-23 assembly is mounted to port in the mid-section of the aircraft’s cargo bay and incorporates pallet tie-downs, twin ammunition boxes, a battery box, a gun control pedestal assembly and a trainable gun mount for the Bushmaster cannon. Here, the complete architecture is 463L palletised weapon system compliant, with the side-firing weapon being capable of rates-of-fire of up to 200 rounds/minute using “all types” of 30×173mm ammunition (including the PGU46/B round). Again, this Ro-Ro assembly can be installed and de-mount in under four hours. For its part, the ISR-FC console pallet is based on ATK’s ‘Scathe View’ design and incorporates a pair of 55cm monitors, seating for two operators (a system operator and a gunner/observer in the basic gunship configuration), equipment racking, a mission computer (with an FC system linked to the platform's EO/IR sensors and gun system) and a digital video recorder. Elsewhere, the platform is equipped with cockpit sensor displays and its PGM capability is vested in a pallet-mounted launch system that is located on its rear cargo ramp or fires through dedicated apertures in the airframe. At the time of writing, both Leonardo and Northrop Grumman were continuing to promote an ‘MC-27J’ capability (describing it as being a “collection of sensors, communications and weapons that can be installed onto most medium- to heavy lift aircraft”). For its part, Leonardo appears to have subsumed the capability (as options) into what it terms the as the C-27J Spartan Next Generation platform. Armada understands that a prototype MC-27J aircraft (serial number CSX62127) remains “active”
While the then Alenia Aermacchi (subsequently absorbed into Leonardo Aircraft) anticipated a global market for up to 50 MC27J type aircraft at the time of its launch, Armada has only been able to identify one production example which takes the form of the Aeronautica Militare’s (AM - Italian Air Force) Praetorian aircraft serial number MM6220. Described as being a specialised variant of the MC-27J, the Praetorian architecture appears to feature palletised mission capabilities (including electro-optical EO/IR imaging, COMINT collection and weapons delivery) and is believed to have been initiated (and funded) by the Italian Ministry of Defence circa 2010/2011. As such, the Praetorian aircraft is given as being capable of undertaking ‘typical’ commando and gunship missions and in addition to Leonardo (acting, it is assumed, as prime), its development programme is understood to have involved the US contractor Orbital ATK/Northrop Grumman (mission and airto-ground support systems) and Leonardo Airborne and Space Systems (communications and datalink equipment).
In programmatic terms, 18 November 2013 saw the then Alenia Aermacchi announce that it and the AM had signed an agreement covering the development, testing, certification, industrialisation and logistical support for the MC-27J Praetorian aircraft. Here, the capability was to support Italy’s Comando Operativo Forze Speciali (COFS - Special Forces Command), with the procurement being divided into two phases. Phase One was to encompass the development and delivery of a Praetorian prototype to the AM (for testing in an operational scenario and assumed to be AM serial number MM6220) during the spring of 2014, with Phase Two covering industrialisation of the configuration and the development of a logistics chain to support it. As of November 2013, it was planned to modify three existing C-27Js to the new standard during 2016, with a further three airframes being subsequently configured to carry the type’s mission suite. At the time of writing, the Italian Ministry of Defence intended to fund a revitalised MC-27J Praetorian programme to the tune of $93 million over the period 2021 to 2026. Three aircraft would be procured with a further $22 million to complete the effort . However, MM6220 was said to have been active and to have been assigned to the AM’s 98º Gruppo as aircraft ’46-83’.
It would appear that the idea of fixedwing, ISR gunships still have traction despite limited use outside the USAF. With a scheduled active inventory of 37 AC-130Js by FY 2024, the service has kept faith with the concept despite its obvious stand-in vulnerability to anything other than the most basic of ground-based air defence capabilities. As noted earlier, while the genre’s vulnerabilities remain, they are mitigated to a considerable extent by the development and use of precision guided munitions together with long-range sensors with which to detect and target enemy forces. The experience of fighting the Taliban and Daesh appears to have convinced the Americans that the ISR gunship still has a place in the inventory, is survivable at stand-off ranges and can provide effective intelligence and fire support for conventional/special forces operating against insurgents in rural and urban settings. Such a belief also appears to be shared by at least two European manufactures who continue to promote such aircraft within their product portfolios.
The Lockheed Martin F-16 was first western fighter aircraft to be operated by the Polish Air Force since the Warsaw Pact was dissolved in 1991.
POLAND’S DIVERSE MILITARY AIR REQUIREMENTS
Poland’s Air Force acquisition programmes that strive to replace Soviet-era airframes with NATO compatible ones have suffered from frequent delays due to funding and indecision about what is actually required.
David Oliver
When the former Warsaw Pact country joined NATO in 1999, Poland’s armed forces were mainly equipped with obsolete Soviet-era equipment. This particularly applied to the Polish Air Force but in the next decade efforts were made to equip it with state-of-the-art Western military aircraft. This began with the introduction into service of the Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter in 2006 to replace its fleet of MiG-21s. The culmination of this strategy was the signing of a $4.6 billion contract to purchase 32 Lockheed Martin Block 4 F-35A Lightning II multi-role combat aircraft in 2019.
The Polish Air Force has replaced its Antonov An-26s with 16 Airbus C-295M medium-range transport aircraft which are currently being upgraded with improved engines and modern avionics and communication systems to C295W standard. Its tactical transport fleet is comprised of five ex-USAF Lockheed Martin C-130E Hercules which will be joined by five C-130H aircraft from the same source from 2022.
Polish Air Force pilot training is carried out on 28 indigenous PZL-130 Orlik TC-I turboprop primary trainers that are being upgraded by Airbus subsidiary PZL Warszawa-Okęcie with new engines and improved avionics. Lead-in fighter training will be carried out on the Leonardo M-346 Master, 16 of which are replacing the indigenous TS11 Iskra. Helicopter training is carried out on the PZL-Świdnik SW-4 light helicopter which entered service in 2010.
However, Poland has a substantial number of requirements outstanding, not only
The Polish Air force fleet of Airbus C-295M medium transport aircraft is being upgraded to C-295W standard. David Oliver
to replace remaining legacy Soviet-era aircraft and helicopters, but for new strategic transport aircraft and aerial tankers, naval helicopters and maritime unmanned aerial systems (MUAS). The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) recently launched several programmes for the acquisition of new aircraft although most of them, due to budget restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic, have been put on the back burner.
The Harpia programme was launched in 2018 to replace the Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-22 fighter aircraft within the next decade. The Polish Air Force had lost an average of one MiG-29 per year and on 14 May 2021 a MiG-29 from Malbork AFB accidentally fired on another aircraft during a training exercise over the Nadarzyce training ground. The pilot was not injured, but the MiG-29 was damaged and needed to be repaired. The military aviation repair company WZL 4 has a contract to repair and overhaul 35 of the MiG-29’s Klimov R-33K turbofan engines by 2023.
In 2014 the MND decided to upgrade 12 single-seat Su-22M4s and six two Su22M3Ks after their airframe assessments with the installation of new radios and avionics. Their current role includes operating with Special Forces Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) and Air Defence unit training as well as taking part in NATO exercises.
Although no Request for Information (RfI) has been issued for the Harpia programme, Lockheed Martin and Saab are expected to bid and Leonardo is pitching its M-346FA as a potential replacement for Poland’s Su-22 fleet. The company claims that its light attack aircraft “provides enormous operational benefits, and has many similarities to the training version M-346 used by the Polish air force”.
After its maiden flight in full configuration in July 2020, the M-346FA is moving toward its delivery to the first international customer this year. Adopting an extensive variety of air-to-air and air-ground weapons, a gun pod, reconnaissance, target designation or electronic warfare pods coupled with a Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) system for both pilots, the M-346FA is equipped with Leonardo’s multi-mode Grifo M346 radar. Not only is it a cost-effective multi-role combat aircraft, while fully keeping its training characteristics, according to Leonardo the M-346FA would be a capable Red Air/Aggressor asset.
In 2016 Poland withdrew from the NATO multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) fleet programme and a year later the MND launched it own MRTT programme codenamed Karkonosze. This was replaced by the DROP programme for strategic transport aircraft to replace the Polish Air Force’s C-130Es to which five manufacturers responded, Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Leonardo and Lockheed Martin. In July 2020 the MND announced that due to the redefinition of operational requirements, the analytical and conceptional phase of the DROP programme had been stopped. Although five former USAF C-130H Hercules have been ordered for delivery over the next three years, with F-35As set to enter service in the near future, the Polish Air Force will not have a dedicated tanker aircraft in its inventory.
ARMY AVIATION LOSE OUT
Currently, the big loser on the procurement ladder is Poland’s Army Aviation. The MND is still expected to launch its long-delayed tender for the procurement of 32 modern attack helicopters for the Army Aviation under the Kruk programme which calls for the replacement of a fleet of obsolete, Soviet-era Mi-24D/W combat helicopters which no longer meet the requirements of the modern battlefield.
Potential competitors for the programme were expected to include Turkish Aerospace with the T129 ATAK, Leonardo with the AW249, Airbus Helicopters with the Tiger and Boeing with the AH-64 Apache. After being awarded a contract to supply eight S-70i Black Hawk helicopters manufactured by PZL Mielec to the Polish Special Forces in 2018, Sikorsky stated that there is the potential for further sales of the Black Hawk to the Polish Armed Forces.
The analytical phase of the Kruk programme was launched in 2014 since when
