4-5/2014 - startsiden | fsi · the easiest answer is to point to social problems like the ... the...

NorwegiaN DefeNce aND Security iNDuStrieS aSSociatioN

4-5/2014

Kr 48,-INTERPRESS NORGE

RETU

RUKE

50

1MILITÆRTEKNIKK 4–5/2014

CONTENTS

Hundreds of European-born Muslims, some of them ethnic Europeans, have gone to Syria or Iraq to join extremist Islamic groups, leaving their family and friends back home with the big question: Why?

More precisely the question can be put: What are the mechanisms that makes born and raised European Muslims risk their life to fight for extremism and horrifying ideologies?

Obviously the answer is not a short an easy one, and will probably differ on an individual basis. Still, if we want to under-stand, we have to look for some common factors.

The easiest answer is to point to social problems like the unemployment rate, especially among young people with immigrant backgrounds. Unemployed young people, developing despair and anger, have always been a recruiting arena for extremism. But unemployment does not explain it all. Looking more thoroughly at the background of the jihadists, a surprisingly high rate of them have been identified as resourceful young people, many with university degrees and prospects of good jobs.

Another element may be the loyalty that young people can develop to subculture groups, like extremist political groups or fundamentalist religious congregations. In the armed forces, it has long been well known that when things gets tough in combat, the soldier keeps on doing his duty and making necessary sacrifices, not out of loyalty to “King and country” but out of loyalty to his fellow soldiers in combat.

It is easy to imagine that the same mechanisms can apply to young people joining a subculture group. Being respected and seen as useful and important, a young person can develop a strong sense of loyalty to the group. And just like in a military unit, the group member sacrificing himself, “taking one for the all of us”, is the hero. In this perspective, going to Iraq or Syria to fight for extreme Islam, may occur as an obvious thing to do out of personal integrity.

As military actions from a number of countries are taken against the IS, the fear of terrorist attacks by European IS soldiers returning home is growing significantly. Since the West is now interfering, Western born jihadists obviously have something to revenge. The first reactions for police forces and security organizations are of course surveillance of every returned jihad-ist. But in the longer perspective, one main answer to fight the jihadists is to answer the question: Why?

EUROPEAN MUSLIMS HEADING FOR IS; WHERE DID IT GO WRONG?

Editor-in-Chief:M.Sc. Bjørn Domaas Josefsen

Contents: DANISH FIGHTER COMPETITION 2 We are selling confidence

“NOWHERE TO HIDE” 6 Patria Nemo 8 120 MM ammunition for Leo II 9 Nowhere to hide

FSI 11 Norwegian Defence and Security Industries

Association

BULLETIN BOARD FOR DEFENCE, INDUSTRY AND TRADE 17 India nears MMRCA deal with France 19 Hungary sells 58 second-hand T-72 tanks to Czech Republic 23 More Carl-Gustaf to USSOCOM 24 P-8A aircraft for Australia

GYLLING TEKNIKK 26 Supplier of batteries to the Norwegian armed

forces for 25 years

APEX AMMUNITION 29 Soon to be qualified for F-35

NSM 30 US Navy testing NSM

31 NOBLE LEDGER

32 CAMERAS FOR ARMOURED VEHICLES

Coverphoto: F-35C AT MOONRISE. An F-35C beauty shot on the flight line at Edwards AFB in September 2013.

F-35 is one of the remaining candidates for the Danish Combat Aircraft program.

Photo: US armed forces/ Lockheed Martin

By Andreas Krog

The Danish public and politicians shall be sure that the evaluation has been

thorough when Denmark chooses the country’s future fighter aircraft next year. This is the outspoken ambition of the head of the program office working on making the evaluation report and recommendations to the politicians.

But it is equally important that the contestants feel the process has been fair. While Denmark is buying aircraft, we are also selling.

“We are selling confidence,” is the clear message from Lone Lindsby, head of the New Combat Aircraft Program Office.

Necessary equalityThe 48year old director has been heading the program office since August last year. But she has been very keen about drawing public attention to the work of the office. She has been focused on making sure that the 50 person strong program office is doing things right and threating the candidates equally.

“Equality is a prerogative for us. We must simply exude that and navigate after it. There is naturally a very keen interest in this process, so it requires a very good control of what you say and do, so it exudes the necessary equality,” Lone Lindsby underlines.

Swedish withdrawalThe process of finding a successor for the almost 35year old Danish F16 Fighting Falcon jets has gone into the final phase with a down selection planned for the middle of next year. On July 21st the contenders handed in their responses to a request for binding information that the Ministry of Defence had issued in April this year. As a major surprise for almost everybody, the Swedish Defence and

Security Exports Agency, Försvarsexportmyndigheten, and SAAB did not hand in answers about the JAS39E Gripen Next Generationaircraft.

An official reason for withdrawing from the Danish competition was never given by the Swedes.

Three jets are still participating in the contest. It is the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Boeing F18F Super Hornet and the F35A Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter).

Understanding the answersAfter receiving the answers to the 950 questions in the request for information the program office started validating the answers.

“Do we have the answers to everything we’ve asked for? Do we understand the answers? Do they fit with our evaluation models? That is some of the things we validate,” Lone Lindsby explains.

The Danes receive very indepth and confidential information about each candidate. It calls for certain requirements with regard to the work done by the program office.

WE ARE SELLING CONFIDENCEFairness is the key element for the program office responsible for evaluating the candidates in the Danish fighter competition.

Lone Lindsby, head of the New Combat Aircraft Program Office. Photo: Andreas Krog

DANISH FIGHTER COMPETITION

2 MILITÆRTEKNIKK 4–5/2014

A sober assessmentThe strategic evaluation will include focus on the candidates’ fulfilment of overall Danish security and defence policy objectives. It is partly about security aspects, and partly on the military strategic aspects in relation to cooperation with other countries. It is based on policy and not on questions to the candidates.

“We look at the political and military strategic advantages and disadvantages in relation to the countries behind the fighter jets. We are making as sober an assessment as we possibly can, and we have external experts to help us make the assessment. I believe we have succeeded in finding an evaluation model, which has also been thoroughly quality assured.

The end result will not be one overall recommendation of one specific aircraft. Instead the program office will come up

“First of all we gain access to advanced technology from other countries. If we can’t handle it confidentially, we will not have any combat aircraft compe tition. Then there are the military and the commercial aspects, which also can be very confidential. And on the other hand our task is also to ensure that we get the best possible negotiating position for the Danish state. So there is a number of considerations we need to take in to account,” Lone Lindsby points out.

Support industryThe program office has now started making analyses, which initially lead to a recommen dation on each of the four

evaluation areas. These are economy, industrial participation, military requirements and the strategic aspect.

The economic evaluation focuses on a comparative assessment of the candidates’ life cycle costs, including costs associated with the acquisition and ongoing operation and maintenance. The industrial evaluation focuses on how the candidates can support major Danish security interests through industrial relationships.

The military evaluation will focus on the candidates’ ability to provide operational power and to keep the aircraft updated through its 30 or 40year long service life, and the risks associated with each candidate.



Gripen out of the Danish Combat Aircraft competitionIn July this year the Swedish Defence and Security Exports Agency did not hand in answers to the Danish request for binding information about the JAS-39E Gripen Next Generation -aircraft.

Photo: Saab/Stefan Kalm



ment for the F16 jets started in 2005 when the Danes sent out a Request For Information (RFI). An evaluation process took place in 20082010, but was put on hold in March 2010. The main reason was that the Air Force estimated that they could keep the F16’s flying a few more years than first expected.

The competition started again in March 2013 with a planned down selection in the middle of next year and expected delivery of the new aircrafts in 20202024.

with recommendations on each of the four evaluation criteria. It is then up to the politicians to decide how they want to weigh the different criteria against each other.

Inside knowledgeIndependent consultants from Deloitte and RAND Europe are performing quality control of the program office’s work during the whole process.

“They have been involved in many different similar procurement processes

around the world. We get state of the art methods and inside knowledge on how it has been done elsewhere. What went well and what went less well, so we can use the experience. That is a real positive thing about this way of doing it,” says Lone Lindsby.

She and her colleagues have also looked at the experiences from other fighter jet competitions in countries like Norway, Holland and Canada.

The process of acquiring a replace

Eurofighter (left) and F-18 Super Hornet are still in the Danish Combat Aircraft compe-tition. The third fighter in the competition is the F-35 Light-ning II (cover photo).

Photo left: Eurofighter/ L. Caliaro)

Photo right: Boeing/

US Navy


NOWHERE TO HIDE

by four, and has ample space for ammunition. There is an integrated firing control system, communications system, plus a forward observer system to identify the target and gain full overview of the battle zone. According to a spokesperson at the test range, the vehicle can attack gradients of up to 60 percent, and cross ditches 2 meters (six feet) in width. The Patria Nemo can forge rivers of 1.8 meters (six feet) in depth, while it is also possible to prepare the system for driving though even deeper waters.

New standard setThe high top speed capability of the Patria Nemo comes from an uprated 450 kW engine combined with an Integrated Terrain Control System (ITCS). The turret swings through 360 degrees, and can be installed on a variety of different platforms, including boats. The army version is ballistics protected, as well as mine and IED protected. The Finnish company maintains that a new standard for mobility, crew protection and fire power on land and at sea has been set.

The definition of a mortar is that it gives indirect fire, but the Patria Nemo, during the demonstration held at the Bradalsmyra test range, fired directly against the deployed target, which was blasted to smithereens. This served

Text: Tor Husby

Nemo is a remote controlled mortar system, and with a total weight of 1.8 tons the Nemo mortar tower can be integrated on a number of platforms. At the Raufoss demonstration the Nemo mortar tower was mounted on a Patria AMV 8x8 vehicle. Weighing in at 30 tons (of which the turret weighs 1.8 tons), it is 8.4 metres (27 feet) long, rages 2.4 m (nine feet) above ground, does a top speed of more than 100 kph (62 mph), has eight wheels, is crewed

PATRIA NEMO DEMONSTRATED AT RAUFOSSRaufoss: Patria’s Nemo 120 mm mortar was this year rolled out for the first time at a Norwegian test range. The demo of the mortar system and its fire power took place at the Nammo conference “No Way to Hide” in September.

The NEMO system tested a fast patrol boats. The tests included firing of 120 mm mortars at speed. Photo: Patria


NOWHERE TO HIDE

to amply illustrate the own protection capability of the Nemo.

Furthermore, the Finish Army operates 18 units of the Patria AMOS mortar system equipped with dual firing barrels.

The Finnish Defence carried out a study a few years ago, into deploying the NEMO system onto fast patrol boats, followed by extensive trials with Finnishbuilt Watercat M12 Nemo vessels. The tests included firing of 120 mm mortars at speed.

At this time, the Finnish Armed Forces do not have a NEMO program for its Navy.

NEMO exportIn 2008, Patria signed a contract for sale of the Nemo mortar system to the navy of the United Arab Republic, where the system was integrated on a number of fast patrol boats (exact number unspecified). Two years later, a contract was signed with Foreign Military Sales of the USA, where 36 NEMO120 mm. mortar systems are currently undergoing inte gration on armoured LAV II 8wheel vehicles, supplied by GDLS of Canada.

Patria NEMO on a Patria AMV 8x8 vehicle. Photo: Patria


NOWHERE TO HIDE

The HiT Canister (High Temperature Canister) version has been developed to blast out openings in concrete walls, knock down structural fences, clear barbed wire blockades, disable unarmoured vehicles, defeat attacking infantry etc. HiT Canister is planned for operational status in 2015. The HiT Canister uses the warhead from the US M1028 Canister which is qualified and in service in several countries, and the development for the HiT Canister has more or less been restricted to tuning the propellant part of the 120 mm IMHET to its new warhead.

Needs a partnerKET APFSDST is specially designed to combat heavily armoured vehicles, such as battle tanks. The ammunition type is planned for qualification in 2015 and operational status in 2016. Nammo is now entering into the final negotiations stage for the qualifications process.

As was emphasised by Mr. Jordet at the conference: Kinetic Energy Tungsten (KET) APFSDST is a US development which is based on the M829. Nammo does not intend to develop any 120mm APFSDST on its own. Instead the company will cooperate with a partner that has a developed and preferably already qualified round available.

Anders Vangen Jordet adds: This new ammunitions type will be capable of destroying targets at a distance of 4 kilo metre

(2.5 miles) or more, and boasts superior destruction capability against modern attack vehicles and heavily armoured trucks.

Ongoing DevelopmentStatus for the development of RF Airburst: The concept has been successfully tested in a 120mm configuration, and many of the main components are under development as part of a technology program. A demonstrator is planned to be fired in 2015, with a qualification to follow 2016/17. The development results in a very costeffective airburst round without any need for a necessary (and costly) weapon system modification.

Text and Photo: Tor Husby

All five are fully developed as of 2014, while the latest model, which has

been designed to combat main battle tanks and other heavily armoured vehicles, has yet to reach the qualification stage.

Our goal is to ensure that military users have all their needs covered, says Program Director Anders Vangen Jordet, currently in charge of all Large Caliber Ammunition at Nammo.

The Best SellerThe bestselling shell is the ammunition type IM HET for Leopard II. It has entered into serial production, and has been sold to the Norwegian Army in addition to four other nations. Sights are set on sales to further foreign customer nations. It makes serious inroads against e.g unarmoured and lightly armoured targets, buildings, vehicles and personnel, which was amply demonstrated at the firing display at the NAMMO test range. But this ammu nition type has not been devised for fighting down modern armoured attack vehicles and heavily armoured cars.

IM TPT is the target practice ammunition to the IM HET, but it can also be used to halt vehicles where only a minimum of collateral damage is desired. Like the IM HET, it has been qualified, and has gone into serial production. It has also been operational since 2013.

KETP is another version intended for training purposes, while it can also be effective against lightly reinforced vehicles, with particular relevance where a partial objective is to reduce the amount of damage. It was qualified in 2007, and is in serial production.

FIVE NEW 120 MM AMMUNITION TYPES FOR LEOPARD IIRaufoss: In the 1980’s, the task of the Leopard II tanks was primarily to do battle with enemy battle tanks. In the 21st century, this situation has changed. The new situation calls for other types of ammunition. Nammo is in a position to offer five different versions.

A Norwegian Leopard II main battle tank under winter practice at Rena. Nammo has developed five new ammunition types for the Leopard II. Photo: Torgeir Haugaard/ FMS

Nammo Programme Director for Large Caliber Ammunition, Anders Vangen Jordet

NOWHERE TO HIDE


As the CEO Edgar Fossheim put it during his opening address, with a lateral

view to the weapons demonstrations and the international security political situation in 2014: ”Peace doesn`t come for free. The bad men can`t beat the free world”.

Heavy hittersLooking at the physical demonstrations, the most interest was mainly generated by the heavy hitters of the battle field, the Leopard II and Nemo, the new mortar system from Patria.

Nammo, which is owned 50/50 between the Finnish company Patria and

the Norwegian State, has tripled in size since the turn of the millennium. Sales for 2013 reached over 400 million EUR. Last year’s acquisitions included Vihtavuori of Finland, Palencia of Spain and the US company Pocal.

Work is spread across 22 product categories, and the company employs 2200 people in nine countries. Military products constitute a full 88 percent of the total production. The main markets are the USA and Canada, with 39 percent of the total, while Europe as a whole takes second place with 22 percent.

Nammo stands firmly on four pillars: ammunition (fine calibre, medium and large calibre), shoulder

borne ammunitions systems (such as the bestseller M72), rocket motors, and demilitarisation of ammunition.

About the latter, Edgar Fossheim commented: - Nammo is the European leader when it comes to demilitarisation of old ammunition, of which there are virtually mountains.

NOWHERE TO HIDEAlmost 300 participants from 26 nations, and 28 presen-tations, as well as shooting demonstrations with a broad spectrum of weapons, from small-calibre up to 120 mm grenades, just about sums up Nammo’s multi-purpose symposium “ Nowhere to Hide!” held in mid-September. Not a single one of the deployed targets on Bradalsmyra test centre escaped total annihilation.

CEO Edgar Fossheim has been in charge of Nammo since 1989.

NORWEGIAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (FSI)


N o rw e g i a N D e f e N c e a N D S e c u r i t y i N D u S t r i e S a S S o c i at i o N (fS i )

THE LEADING ASSOCIATION IN NORWAY ADVOCATING THE INTERESTS OF ITS SECTOR, AND THE PRIMARY INTERLOCUTOR FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO THE INDUSTRY. AFFILIATED WITH THE

CONFEDERATION OF NORWEGIAN ENTERPRISE (NHO) AND REPRESENTING MORE THAN 100 COMPANIES

P.O. Box 5250 Majorstuen,NO- 0303 Oslo. NORWAY

Tel: + 47 23 08 80 00Telefax: + 47 23 08 80 18

E-mail: [email protected]: www.fsi.no

LeDereN har orDet:

TID FOR HANDLING!Den russiske annekteringen av Krim og utviklingen i Ukraina har ført til en varig endret sikker-hetspolitisk situasjon i Europa som krever endringer i norsk forsvars politikk. En erkjennelse av manglende evne til å respon-dere tilstrekkelig raskt på en trussel i våre nærområder, for lav reaksjons evne og utholdenhet og et økende press på balansen mellom ambisjonsnivå, struktur og til gjengelige ressurser, er bak-teppet for at Forsvarsministeren nylig ga Forsvarssjefen et oppdrag om å utarbeide et fagmilitært råd som grunnlag for en ny langtids-plan for Forsvaret.

”Samlet sett er endringene så store at vi er nødt til å se helt grunnleggende på Forsvarets framtidige struktur og sammen-setning.” sa Forsvarsministeren i sin tale ved overleveringen av opp draget.

På NATOs toppmøte i Cardiff i forrige måned ble NATO-landene enige om at de skal ha som mål-setting at forsvarsbudsjettene skal økes i retning av 2% av BNP innen ti år. Trenden med synkende forsvars budsjetter i mange land skal snus, og de allierte har som mål at 20 prosent av forsvars-budsjettet skal gå til in vesteringer. Dette er helt i tråd med det

forsvars minister Ine Eriksen Søreide sa i sin tale på Atlantic Council Conference i Washington D.C. i juni år, der hun poengterte at det ikke lenger går an å løpe fra det faktum at europeiske allierte må begynne å bruke mere penger på forsvar.

Vi registrerer med tilfredshet at Norge er en pådriver for å øke forsvarsbudsjettene i alliansen. Derfor er det er et tankekors at det mest ambisiøse ressursnivået som oppdraget til forsvarssjefen legger opp til å utrede bare inne-bærer 0,5% reell årlig budsjett-vekst fra 2015-nivå. Med en slik utvikling vil det ta svært lang tid før den uttalte målsettingen om å øke forsvarsbudsjettet i retning av 2% av BNP kan sies å være oppfylt.

Dersom det norske for svaret og våre europeiske alliertes for-svar skal forbli relevante, slik at de både har den nødvendige av-skrekkende effekt og operative evne til å kunne settes inn for å håndtere situasjoner slik den vi nå ser utvikler seg i Irak og Syria, krever det kontinuerlig in ve-steringer i ny teknologi. Derfor er det bra at det som en del av opp-draget til forsvars sjefen tydelig fremgår at Forsvaret skal fortsette, og på enkelte områder forsterke, satsningen på ny teknologi.

Norsk forsvarsindustri er forberedt på å fortsette å støtte Forsvarets videre satsning på ny teknologi. Industrien har gjennom flere tiår bevist at den, med ut-gangspunkt i Forsvarets opera-tive krav, kan utvikle teknologi i verdensklasse og, ved hjelp av innovasjonskraft og kunnskap, omsette teknologien til produkter som møter det norske forsvarets unike behov på en kosteffektiv måte. Naval Strike Missile (NSM), bakkebasert luftvern (NASAMS), våpenstasjoner, avansert ammuni-sjon, observasjonssystemer og kommando-, kontroll og kommu-nikasjonssystemer er eksempler på at norsk industri, i samarbeid med Forsvaret, er kapabel til å ta frem løsninger som også er inter-nasjonalt konkurransedyktige.

De fleste av disse system ene har lyktes så godt på eksport-markedet at det i et makro-økonomisk perspektiv kan dokumen teres at for AS Norge har det å investere i utvikling av for-svarsmateriell gitt svært god øko-nomisk avkastning, samtidig som Forsvaret har fått realisert opera-tive kapasiteter som ikke kunne etableres på en kosteffektiv måte ved kjøp av hyllevare. Forsvars-industrien bidrar på denne måten til at investeringer i utvikling av

nytt forsvarsmateriell gir staten inntekter som langt overstiger investeringene og er på denne måten med å skape det inntekts-grunnlaget som gir muligheten til å fortsette å satse på Forsvaret. Fortsatt satsning på utvikling av forsvarsteknologi i Norge er der-for et argument for ytterligere styrking av forsvarsbudsjettet slik at Forsvaret får tilstrekkelige, stabile og forutsigbare rammer for sin virksomhet.

Til slutt. Evnen til styrke-oppbygging i en krisesituasjon skal gjennomgås og det skal utredes hvilke støttebehov Fors-varet har fra sivil sektor i krise og krig. Forsvarsindustrien besitter kompetanse og kapasitet som har forutsetninger for både å kunne bidra til styrkeoppbygging og å støtte Forsvarets operasjoner der-som det oppstår en situasjon som krever det. Det forutsetter imidler-tid at vi i felleskap finner frem til samarbeidsmodeller og for deling av roller og oppgaver mellom indu-strien og Forsvaret i fredstid som gir forutsettinger for å på en hurtig og effektive måte kunne tilpasse kapasitet og gjøre eventuelle nød-vendige omstillinger, for å møte behovene Forsvaret måtte ha i en krise/krigssituasjon. Industrien er klar til å gå i dialog om dette.



The official opening was performed by Minister of

Defence, Ine Eriksen Søreide, who in her address emphasised the need to strengthen the cooperation between various sectors in the security area in Norway, not least that between Defence and Police. On this background, Eriksen Søreide expressed appreciation the Police, the airport authority Avinor, The Norwegian Coastal Administration Kystverket, and the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) had all signed up as contributors to the event.

Eriksen Søreide also touched upon the procurement of the F35 fighter aircraft fleet, noting that the Government was continually working on securing entries into the program for Norwegian industry.

The renewal of our combat aircraft will demand significant financial resources, and we are placing additional financing at disposal in order to protect the highly prioritised assignments in the other parts of the defence structure.

At the same time, some unpopular initiatives are required, and we have seen the need to make adjustments to the materiel investment portfolio, where we from a collective standpoint have decided to terminate a small number of projects.

THE FSi-EXHIBITION AT AKERSHUSThis year’s FSi- exhibition at Akershus fortress is the largest one ever, with more than 50 participating businesses, and more than 400 registered visitors. Since its start about ten years ago, the exhibiton has grown more than four times its initial size.

Defence Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide opened the annual FSi supplier seminar at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. Photo: MilitærTeknikk

Eriksen Søreide took the time to visit several of the exhi bitors. Here she is joined by Tor Berg from the company Radionor AS. Radionor AS delivers communi-cations equipment for transmitting live HD images from for instance a soldier in an advanced field position to a command centre further back. Photo: MilitærTeknikk

Svein Daae from Vinghøg demonstrated their Vingpos system for mortar location, aiming and fire control. When the Swedish defence procured this system, they found that they could downsize the howitzer team by one person, which is of course a considerable saving, said Daae.

Photo: MilitærTeknikk

Jens Aassved (at left) from Optec, and Armament director Morten Tiller from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.Optec has e.g. been suppliers of binoculars to the Norwegian Border Patrols, and the company has done own development of a video unit where what the operator sees on the scope, can also be shown on a monitor and saved on file. Photo: MilitærTeknikk

NORWEGIAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (FSI) NORWEGIAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (FSI)


GIAX industries are providers of tents and other equipment for both civilian and military purposes. In collaboration with the Norwegian Armed Forces’ hospital unit, the company has developed a Surgical Field Sterile Washbasin, which has been sold in considerable numbers, to the Swedish military among others.- The foot-operated tap allows the surgeon to open and close the water supply without touching the taps, explains Kjell Plassen, Technical Director for GIAX.

Photo: MilitærTeknikkRolf Rasmussen and Stein F. Walle of Nordic Shelter have provided special containers to the defences of several nations. Photo: MilitærTeknikk

Arild Henriksen (at left) and Sjalg T. Mortvedt from the company OSWO are exhibiting a rack which the company makes for the F-35 fighter plane.


Norsafe AS is known as a supplier of “free-fall” life boats to the offshore industry. The company is also targeting the defence market, and the pictured vessel has among others been delivered to the Coast Guard of Oman. The boat will do a speed in excess of 60 knots, and will withstand heavy sea. The Kongsberg Sea Protector weapons station is mounted on the top of the vessel. From the left; Sindre Sviggum Knutsen and Thomas Skaala. Photo: MilitærTeknikk



Trond Sundby from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace

reviewed the main aspects of the quality assurance system used by Kongsberg, while underscoring that Kongsberg does not have a policy of dismissing all subcontractors who do not at the outset fulfil all demands that are placed on quality assurance.

We are all in the same boat, and it is our goal that both we and our subcontractors may improve together. If we review a potential subcontractor and find it scores the lowest grade in some areas, this does not entail that all chances are lost for the company. We will always enter into the situation and try to assist the company in making requisite improvements.

Not far away from Kongsberg is the town of Notodden and the company Berget AS, which is mainly a manufacturer of metal components, usually as a subcontractor to larger companies. Berget AS has worked actively on quality assurance, and is currently one of only nine businesses in Norway that are certified to the AS9100C standard.

The process to achieve this certification has been demanding, with substantial costs in time as well as money, but this has opened up opportunities and markets that were inaccessible to us in the past, say Morten Lia and Reinulf Bergestig from Berget AS.

Unlike Berget AS, which is by and large a manufacturing business, Kongsberg Devotek

We often have to exercise a kind of ‘Active Expectations Control’ vs. the customer, to make him realise the connections between quality, cost and time to delivery. The customer cannot get all three in equal measure, but needs to prioritise between what is the most important to him, Holmslet emphasises.

The Armed Forces’ Logistics Organisation, FLO, has a separate unit at Kolsås with 20 certified quality reviewers working on quality assurance vs. the defence contractors. Ole Petter Ingebretsen gave a broadranging presentation of how the Defence works with quality assurance, and of the quality standards to which the Defence works, in particular the AQAP standards.

Ingebretsen also gave a presentation on what the Defence regards as particular focus areas and challenges when it comes to quality assurance,

counts itself mainly as an engineering and development business. Quality assurance in development processes is by nature quite different from quality assurance in production processes.

Our projects often start as open projects, without benefit of specifications. Often, the customer comes to us, asking us to ‘deliver something’, says Tormod Holmslet for openers. But even if the customer is uncertain of exactly what he wants, there is nearly always a cost expectation at the bottom.

mentioning by way of example the socalled “counterfeit” products.

Counterfeit products are materiel or products that are copies of the originals, often equipped with false certificates and documentation allowing them to pass for and being sold as original products.

There are huge profit potentials for unscrupulous providers to make or sell such products, and unfortunately, the risk of being caught is much too low as per today. But if such products find their way into advanced defence materiel, the result could be lessened military capacity, limited service life and higher operational cost as well as lessened safety and security for the operators, said Ingebretsen, adding that in NATO circles there is very sharp focus on this issue, while the Norwegian defence and industry has an increased attention on this area.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SEMINAR FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES

Many smaller businesses find the quality assurance regimes of both the Armed Forces and the major businesses to be quite challenging. Towards the end of August, the FSI held a seminar to give the smaller businesses an insight into what Quality Assurance is required in order to make deliveries to the Armed Forces, or to become subcontractors to larger businesses.

From left. Trond Sundby from Kongs-berg Defence & Aerospace to gether with Reinulf Berge-stig and Morten Lia from Berget AS. Berget AS is an important sub-contractor to the Kongsberg Group.


Tormod Holms-let presented the work of Kongsberg Devotek and its challenges in quality assurance, while Ole Petter Ingebretsen gave an insight into the quality assur-ance efforts in the Armed Forces.


NORWEGIAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (FSI) NORWEGIAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (FSI)


Boeing is of course primarily known as a manufacturer

of civilian passenger air liners, but besides the civilian output, Boeing is also very much a notable defence supplier.

Broadly speaking, the spread between military and civilian and military production has been 60% civilian and 40% military, says Boeing’s representa tive for Northern Europe, Maria H. Laine. The numbers have naturally swayed one way or the other over the years, and the signals we are currently picking up from political quarters may be

ing the product itself, and with regard to the documentation of the product and the supplier.

But Boeing buys approximately one billion parts and components from sub contractors every year. It goes without saying that we cannot allow faulty deliveries or delayed shipments. We absolutely must have subcontractors whom we can rely on to provide according to specifications at the right time every time. But on the other hand, we also represent a giant market for our sub contractors. Annual deliveries from suppliers to Boeing are valued at some 35 billion US$, Wheeler concludes.

Boeing also presented a selection from the broad product range on offer, with special regard to the KC46 tanker and the maritime surveillance plane P8 Poseidon.

The KC46 is based on the civilian jet liner Boeing 767, and some 85% of the parts in the

taken to suggest that there will be a weakening of the military market over the coming years. This will be compensated by the powerful growth we are foreseeing on the civilian markets, says Laine in conclusion.

ISP Country Manager Tim Wheeler from Boeing UK addressed the existing opportunities for subcontractors to Boeing.

Many will experience the process of becoming a qualified supplier to Boeing as a difficult one, and this is as it should be; Boeing places strict demands on its subcontractors, both regard

tanker aircraft are the same as used in the civilian plane. Production of the tanker plane is done on the civilian pro duction line until the aircraft is almost complete, before the plane is taken to a separate facility to be finished as a tanker. The American Air Force will probably procure 179 KC46 tanker aircraft between now and 2027.

Like the KC46, the P8 Poseidon is also based on a civilian aircraft.

Here, however, the basis is the Boeing 737800, which is a smaller plane than the 767 aircraft. The P8 carries about 65% component similarity with the 737800.

Many regard the P8 Poseidon to be the natural successor to the P3 Orion. The P8 is however a jet aircraft, with greater speed as well as greater payload capacity. Besides the US Defence, both India and Australia will be procuring the P8 Poseidon.

BOEING ON VISIT TO NORWEGIAN INDUSTRYThe US aerospace giant Boeing recently visited the FSI, the Norwegian Defence and Security Industries assosiation. Boeing and FSi co- hosted the Boeing Industry Day on 9 September 2014. The purpose of this meeting was to look into possibilities in the Norwegian market, and establish contacts with Nor wegian potential suppliers.

The delegation from Boeing that visited Norway recently.From the left in front: Dennis Lamb, Robert Gift, Cliff Puckett, Maria H. Laine, Tim Wheeler and Patrick Druez.Behind is Per-Oscar Jacobsen, representing Boeing in Norway. Photo: MilitærTeknikk

BULLETIN BOARD FOR DEFENCE, INDUSTRY AND TRADE


– Bu L L e t i N Bo a r D f o r De f e N c e, iN D u S t ry a N D tr a D e –

France has reportedly withdrawn its earlier plans to deliver two controversial Mistralclass warships to the Russian Navy next month, citing conditions as being ‘not right’ for deliveries amid conflicts in easternUkraine.

The latest decision is said to be one of the most concrete signs yet of the Western governments’ eagerness to take a more aggressive approach in dealing with Russia over Ukraine, despite fears that the European economy, which is already fading, could be further hit by a faceoff with Russia.

Russia Deputy Defence Minister Yury Borisov was quoted by ItarTass as saying: “ Although of course it is unpleasant and adds to certain tensions in relations with our French partners, the cancelling of this contract will not be a tragedy for our modernisation.”

“Although of course it is unpleasant and adds to certain tensions in relations with our French partners, the cancelling of this contract will not be a tragedy for our modernisation.”

Russia has been criticised for its alleged role in the supply

France withdraws plans to deliver Mistral-class vessel to Russia

of antiaircraft systems to rebels in easternUkraine, which allegedly shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that killed 298 people onboard.

The two Mistralclass vessels, which form part of a $1.52bn deal signed in 2011, are being built by DCNS at its SaintNazaire shipyard in France.

The first vessel for Moscow was set for delivery on 1 November, while the float out of the second vessel is expected to take place in October.

The deal also involved Russia’s procurement of two more Mistralclass vessels to be built in Russia and France.

The 199mlong, 22,000t Mistralclass ships can launch helicopter, tank and missile attacks from the sea, further bolstering the military strength of the Russian forces.

The vessels, which are capable of cruising at a maximum speed of 19k, are integrated with an MRR3D NG surveillance radar and a highperformance communications suite for humanitarian operations and several other missions.

Mistral class amphibious assault ship Photo: DCNS

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is reportedly close to finalising the longawaited medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal with Dassault Aviation.

IAF chief air chief marshal Arup Raha was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying that the contract is imminent as the air force cannot afford further delays and the signing is ‘going to happen soon.’

Raha’s comments come amid reports that losing bidder Eurofighter is attempting to reenter the race to sell its Typhoon fighters to IAF with a revised proposal.

Commenting on Eurofighter’s possible reentry, Raha said: “It will not be appropriate to make any changes in the process.

“The current government has set the pace of work and things are moving fast enough on the fighter deal.”

A senior Indian defence ministry official said the Indian defence procurement rules do not allow for reopening of the competition at this stage to Eurofighter, and noted that the consortium can make a comeback only if India agrees to scrap the deal and start afresh.

“Rafale has run through the finish line. It’s too late in the day

India nears MMRCA deal with France

to parachute into the race. The door is closed,” the unnamed official said.

“The current government has set the pace of work and things are moving fast enough on the fighter deal.”

In January 2012, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) selected Dassault’s Rafale fighter jet for the contract, rejecting its rival fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Under the $22bn contract, Dassault will supply 126 Rafales, with the first 18 jets to be manufactured in France from the second quarter of 2015 onwards, while the remaining 108 fighters will be built in India following a techno logy transfer to Hindustan Aeronautics.

The contract also includes the option for ordering an additional 63 aircraft at a renegotiated price.

However, the deal could not be finalised in wake of allegations of irregularities in the process that led to the choice of the fighters, as reported by India Blooms News Service.

The new MMRCA aircraft will be the mainstay of the IAF fighter aircraft fleet for the next 40 years and will replace its existing fleet of MiG variants.

A French Air Force Rafale F1 fighter in flight. Photo: French Air Force



Pratt & Whitney is reportedly set to start testing a potential design change aimed at fixing the problem that led to the failure of the engine that powered the F35 Lightning II joint strike fighter in June.

Two sources with knowledge of the matter were quoted by Reuters as saying that the testing would be undertaken at the company’s facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, following weeks of preliminary work.

One of the sources said the tests were initially supposed to start last week, but were postponed as engineers struggled with how to control the vibration of the engine during testing.

The Russian Navy has launched its new Varshavyankaclass Stary Oskol dieselelectric submarine, which is third in a series of vessels being built under project 636.3 as part of the navy’s fleet modernisation programme.

The series of six sub marines will be deployed to serve in the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet following the successful completion of sea trials.

The navy has already taken delivery of Novorossiysk, the first submarine. Work on the second and fourth submarines including ‘RostovonDon’ and ‘Krasnodar’ is currently in progress.

The improved variant of the Kiloclass dieselelectric submarines can patrol for 45 days with 52 onboard submariners.

Construction on the last two submarines Veliky Novgorod and Kolpino of series is scheduled to begin next month, with the delivery of all vessels anticipated to be completed by 2016.

Pratt & Whitney to test proposed F-35 engine fix

Russian Navy launches third diesel-electric submarine

In June, one of the F135 engines on a US Air Force F35A conventional takeoff and landing variant broke apart and caught fire as the aircraft was taking off for a training flight from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, US.

The incident prompted the US Department of Defense to ground the entire F35 fleet for several weeks as a precautionary measure.

Although the F35 flights resumed the following week, certain restrictions on speed and other manoeuvres still remain in place.

As of 2 September, the US military possesses a total 84 F35 training jets and 19 test aircraft, according to the F35 Program Office.

With an underwater speed of 20k and a cruising range of 400m, the improved variant of the Kiloclass dieselelectric submarines can patrol for 45 days with 52 onboard submariners.

Features of these submarines include advanced stealth techno logy, extended combat range, latest inertial navigation system and the potential to strike land, surface and underwater targets.

Work on the Russian Navy’s three new submarines including the Boreiclass Knyaz Oleg and Yasenclass Krasnoyarsk and the Khabarovsk is already underway at Defence shipyard Sevmash in Severodvinsk, Russia.

Russia is investing $700bn on its military rearmament programme, which includes the construction of ten Graneyclass nuclearattack submarines and 20 dieselelectric sub marines, including six Varshavyankaclass crafts.

The Navy accepted delivery of the first MK VI patrol boat.

The craft is the first of 10 patrol boats currently under contract with Safe Boats International in Tacoma, Washington. The patrol boats will be operated and maintained by the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), supporting coastal riverine forces.

The MK VI patrol boat is an 85foot craft arranged with an ergonomically designed pilothouse, covered fly bridge, re

The Government of Romania and Airbus Helicopters have signed a Memorandum of Under standing (MOU) in a cere mony at the Victoria Palace in Victory Square, the headquarters of the Romanian Govern ment.

With over 300 Pumas and Alouettes helicopters (IAR330 and IAR316) produced under licence in the 1970s for national

First MK VI Patrol Boat for US Navy

Airbus Helicopters and Romania Signs MoU

configurable main deck cabin and belowdeck accommodations.

The vessel includes shock mitigating seating for up to 10 crewmen and eight passengers with a maximum sprint speed of more than 35 knots.

The first MK VI successfully completed sea trials this summer and is undergoing testing and training evolutions before it will be transitioned to NECC for operational deployment in late spring of 2015.

and export markets, Airbus Helicopters has enjoyed a longstanding partnership with the Government of Romania. The helicopter manu facturer’s presence in Brasov dates to 2002 through Eurocopter Romania, a jointventure with the stateowned company Industria Aeronautica Româna (now IAR S.A. Brasov).

The MK VI patrol boat is the Navy’s first patrol boat introduced since the mid-1980s. Photo: US Navy

Photo: Airbus Helicopters



The Hungarian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has com pleted the sale of its surplus T72 main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Czech Republic Army.

Excalibur Defense has shipped a total of 58 Hungarian T72 tanks to an undisclosed location in the Czech Republic.

The MoD said in a statement that the acquisition by the Czech Government is in accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).

Around 77 Hungarian T72 tanks were donated to the Iraqi Government in November 2005.

Designed by Leonid KartsevValeri Venediktov and manu factured by Uralvagonzavod, the T72 is a Soviet second generation tank that was directly developed from Obyekt172 and shares parallel features with the T64A tank.

Hungary sells 58 second-hand T–72 tanks to Czech Republic

In addition to Hungary and the Czech Republic, the tank has also been exported to Algeria, Bulgaria, Cuba, Slovakia, Finland, India, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea, Poland and Romania, as well as Syria and Yugoslavia.

The Czech Army already has T72 tanks in its inventory and has upgraded them to the thirdgeneration T72M4 CZ armoured, tracked vehicle, with enhanced manoeuvrability and heavyterrain passability.

The modernised tank is armed with a 125mm cannon and a 7.62mm PKT machine gun, as well as a 12.7mm NSV antiaircraft machine gun and a type 95/98 7.62mm machine gun.

It can effectively engage hostile forces, as well as armoured and low flying targets, offering greater protection against enemy fire, blast effects, radiation and chemical agents.

A modernised T-72 main battle tank of the Czech Republic Army. Photo: Czech Army

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has taken delivery of the last four upgraded F16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) at the company’s facility in Ankara, Turkey.

A total of 41 Pakistani F16s were modernised by TAI under a contract awarded by the

TAI completes upgraded F-16 deliveries to Pakistan Air Force

Pakistan Ministry of Defence (MoD) in June 2009.

Apart from avionics and structural modernisation of F16 jets, the contract, called the Peace Drive programme, also included classroom and onthejob training for qualification of PAF pilots for the modernisation.

China’s domestically developed Rainbow NO.4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has successfully completed its maiden test flight and simulation target practice at an undisclosed location.

Manufactured by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), Rainbow NO.4 is a reconnaissance and strike drone, and represents a major step forward for China’s unmanned technology.

Also known as the Cai Hong4 (CH4), Rainbow No.4 is designed to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, border patrol, island defence and antiterrorism missions, as reported by WantChinaTimes.

Armed with guided missiles and bombs, the drone is capable of striking both land and sea targets with a margin of error of less than 1.5m, and can also be used for civilian applications, such as emergency communications, geological mapping and exploration.

China’s new Rainbow NO.4 UAV completes maiden flight

However, the UAV should be around airspace near its target to enable precise realtime reconnaissance or a sudden strike.

The Chinese UAV is designed with a very long wing of 18m, while the drone body is only 9m.

The UAV is often compared to the US military’s MQ1 Predator, but China claims that it is more superior than the General Atomicsbuilt platform.

CASC researcher Chen Hongxin was quoted by WantChinaTimes as saying that the CH4 has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,330kg, a maximum payload of 345kg, a service ceiling of 8,000m, a maximum range of 3,500km, and an endurance of 38h.

In comparison, the Predator has a wingspan of 15m, an effective maximum payload of 204kg, a service ceiling of 7,600m, a maximum range of 1,100m and can stay airborne for one day.

The UAV is also believed to have participated in the recent multinational Peace Mission 2014 exercise in Inner Mongolia.

China North Industries Group (NORINCO) has developed a new antitank missile that can destroy targets at a distance of more than 4km.

The new HJ12 missile is designed to enable China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) ground force to match the antitank combat capability of its Western and Russian counterparts, and also obtain a larger share in the foreign military equipment market, China Daily reported.

A military expert familiar with the missile’s development said: “The HJ12 is much more

Chinese Army to receive new indigenous anti-tank missile

advanced than the antitank missiles currently used by the PLA ground force.

Equipped with automatic selfguidance instruments, the missile features a fireandforget capability that eliminates the requirement for further guidance after launch, and can be fired within buildings and bunkers due to its soft launch system, IHS Jane’s reported.

The global portable, antitank missiles market is currently dominated by Western and Russian products, such as the US’ FGM148 Javelin and Russian AT13 Saxhorn2 missiles.



General Dynamics UK has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver 589 SCOUT Specialist Vehicle (SV) platforms to the British Army to provide essential capability to the Armoured Cavalry within Army 2020.

The platforms, consisting of six variants, will be delivered to the British Army between 2017 and 2024, alongside the provision of initial inservice support and training, and will serve at the heart of the Armoured Infantry Brigade structure.

SCOUT SV represents the future of Armoured Fighting

589 SCOUT SV platforms to the British Army

Vehicles (AFV) for the British Army, providing bestinclass protection and survivability, reliability and mobility and allweather intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and recognition (ISTAR) capabilities. Its range of variants will allow the British Army to conduct sustained, expeditionary, fullspectrum and networkenabled operations with a reduced logistics footprint. SCOUT SV can operate in combinedarms and multinational situations across a widerange of future operating environments.

SCOUT SV has been developed at General Dynamics UK’s AFV design and engineering centre in Oakdale, South Wales, maintaining the UK’s sovereign expertise in this important capability. Photo: General Dynamics

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has received approval to acquire Chinook and Apache helicopters under a multi billion dollar deal with the US.

Under a $2.5bn deal, US defence contractor Boeing would supply 15 CH47F Chinook heavylift helicopters and 22 AH64D attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The Apache deal is hybrid, with one contract to be signed with Boeing for helicopters, and another with the US Government for 812 AGM114L3 Hellfire missiles, 542 AGM114R3 HellfireII missiles, 245 Stinger Block I92H missiles and 12 AN/APG78 firecontrol radars, as reported earlier by The Times of India.

The Apaches are expected to replace IAF’s ageing Russianbuilt Mi25/35 helicopter fleet.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), however, cancelled the longpending $991.6m ($16.3m) project

Chinook and Apache for Indiacovering the acquisition of 197 lightutility helicopters (LUH) from foreign vendors.

Instead, the DAC decided that all the 384 helicopters required by the IAF and the Indian Army to replace their ageing Cheetah/Chetak fleets will be manufactured in India with foreign collaboration.

In related developments, DAC also cleared the Indian Navy’s proposal to purchase 16 multirole helicopters, and another INR175bn ($28.8bn) deal covering midlife upgrade of submarines.

The council also approved the INR9bn ($148.3bn) army communications system project that is expected to supply dedicated mobile systems for Tezpurbased 4 Corps, Dimapurbased 3 Corps and Lehbased 14 Corps, Zee News reported.

A proposal for procurement of 40 Arjun tank chassisbased catapult artillery systems was also approved.

The Indian Air Force would receive 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from Boeing. Photo: courtesy of Staff Sgt. Nathan Hoskins.

The French Air Force has deployed several Rafale multirole combat aircraft for a training exercise at Banak Air Base in Norway.

Exercise Arctic Thunder involves participation from 11 Rafale fighters for airtoground weapons firing and 200 French airmen, including thirty aircrew from fighter squadrons 1/7 Provence, 1/91 Gascogne and 2/30 NormandieNiemen.

The French detachment also includes technical support staff, commandos, technical information and communications systems.

Arctic Thunder director lieutenant colonel François

French Rafale fighters participate in Norway

Tricot said: “It is first of all the first firing campaign conducted by the French Air Force above the Arctic Circle.

The French aviators train on several Norwegian facilities, including the Halkavarre shooting range located near the base ever year.

Equipped with several types of targets, the terrain enables firing of several types of weapons, training munitions, a cannon and various guided weapons, including GBU 12 laserguided bombs and A2SM laserguided munitions, while offering the scope for multiple tactical scenarios.

The highlymobile UK vehicles have been sold to the Latvian army in a package worth £39.4 million, including their overhaul and refurbishment. The vehicles have previously been used on operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Latvian Army Purchases UK Armoured Combat Vehicles

The purchase of these vehicles will allow the Latvian armed forces to better transport infantry, reconnaissance teams, air defence sections and mortar fire controllers as well as provide vital battlefield capabilities including ambulances, armoured command vehicles and armoured recovery vehicles.



Companies in Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra have won major subcontracts under the Australian Army’s Land 121 Phase 3B program after a competitive tender process overseen by prime contractor Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia ( RMMVA).

RMMVA secured the Land 121 Phase 3B contract in 2013 to supply the Commonwealth of Australia with more than 2,500 medium and heavy military logistical trucks and nearly 3,000 modules.

The successful companies are: Newcastlebased Varley Group will supply more than 550 stores and maintenance modules. Sydneybased RPC Technologies will provide a specialist interface unit to

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia awards key sub-contracts under LAND 121 3B

transport, launch and recover the ADF’s current and future heavy floating bridge systems including the bridge themselves and the support boats. Canberrabased Sea Box International will design, develop and manage the production supply over 2,100 heavy flat racks for RMMVA’s high mobility military vehicle fleet. Brisbanebased company Holmwood Highgate will design and manufacture a total of 276 integrated tankers, bulk water and fuel modules.

Reference vehicles have already arrived in Australia. The first Land 121 Phase 3B production vehicles will be delivered in 2016 and final delivery is expected in 2020.

Rolls Royce is reportedly set to lose its position as the sole engine supplier for the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) V22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft fleet.

The Pentagon is currently exploring the engine options that may exist for use on all of the MV22 models operated by the US Air Force, Marine Corps and export buyers, such as Israel, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The US Navy, the V22 program manager, said in an emailed statement: “The V22 Program is continually investigating ways to reduce the life cycle costs of the aircraft.

“Knowing that more than 90% of the operational use of the V22 is in the future, coupled with budget pressures, it is prudent to investigate alternatives to existing systems and the engine is no exception.

The V22 Osprey fleet is currently powered by two AE 1107C Liberty newgeneration 6,000shp class turboshaft engines.

The DoD seeks an alternative engine with improvements and increased output that is expected to support the aircraft’s ability to operate at high altitude and in hot weather.

“The DoD seels an improved engine, with increased output

New engines for V-22 Osprey fleet?

in rugged environments, but the Pentagon is yet to make a decision.”

The new engine is also required to cause ‘minimal impact to aircraft operation and physical systems,’ and should also be capable of retrofitting into the existing tiltrotors.

However, the Pentagon is yet to take a decision on the introduction of a new engine for the V22 fleet.

Meanwhile, RollsRoyce has announced the development of upgrades and reliability improvements for the V22 engines that will boost power by 17%.

The company said in a statement that the upgrades have enhanced the engine’s performance in hot climates and at high altitudes, while reducing repair intervals and doubling the time between engine removals.

Jointly manufactured by Bell Helicopter and Boeing, the V22 Osprey features both vertical takeoff and landing, and short takeoff and landing capabilities, and is used for amphibious assault, longrange special operations infiltration and exfiltration, searchandrescue, medical evacuation and fleet logistic support missions.

USAF CV-22 Ospreys Photo: US Air Force

The French Air Force (ALAT) has taken delivery of the first modernised KC135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft from the US at Air Base 125, near Istres, France.

A total of three French KC135RG tankers have been

First upgraded KC-135 Stratotanker to France

upgraded by the US to primarily ensure compliance with the RENO global air traffic management (GATM) standard.

The French Air Force operates a total of 11 C135FR and three KC135R aircraft.

A French KC-135RG tanker Photo: French Airforce



The UAE and France are expected to finalise the longawaited Falcon Eye satellites deal in the next few weeks.

In addition to this, the country is exploring the acquisition of 40 Rafale fighter jets from the French company Dassault.

A UAE source with knowledge of the matter said the negotiations have been completed and the French Defence Minister JeanYves Le Drian is expected to soon arrive in the UAE.

“For the Falcon Eye deal to proceed there is a need for a high level of technology transfer, and for that we have negotiated the possible purchase of 40 Rafale jets with the overhaul of the Mirage 2000 fleet,” the source said.

Two highresolution Pleiadestype Falcon Eye military observation satellites were ordered by the UAE along with two ground facilities and operator training for 20 engineers under a Dh3.39bn (EURO 700m) contract from France in July 2013.

The satellites were scheduled to be delivered by prime contractor Airbus Defence

UAE, France close to finalising Falcon Eye satellites deal

and Space and payloadmaker Thales Alenia Space by 2018.

However, the deal ran into difficulties in January 2014 following the discovery of two USbuilt security compromising components in the intelligence satellites that could enable transmission of all data to an unauthorised third party.

The contract deadline then lapsed due to a delay in gaining anexport license for the satellite components from the US, forcing the countries to restart talks on the terms and conditions of a new deal, according to the news agency.

A French defence ministry spokesman said: “Everything is going well. There is agreement on technology, economics and political issues.

“There are no problems. France is politically committed to reaching a conclusion on the contract.

A French industry executive said: “A new contract has been drawn up, all the companies must sign, and that signing is expected to take a couple of weeks.”

The UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is reportedly planning to launch a competition this year for the development of directed energy weapons (DEW).

An MoD spokeswoman was quoted by DefenseNews as saying: “This fouryear project aims to understand what potential there is for high energy laser technology to be used in future military capabilities.

“The project aims to assess a number of subsystems that will potentially be incorporated into a working developmental system for testing.

“This fouryear project aims to understand what potential there is for high energy laser technology to be used in future military capabilities.”

“We intend to conduct outdoor testing at a range, but exact details are yet to be determined.”

The £30m project is being pursued by MBDA, Lockheed Martin UK, Qinetiq, Thales UK and Raytheon UK among others, and a winning contractor is expected to be selected before April 2015.

In 2013, unnamed Thales UK executives told the publication that the company is planning to complete the development of a productionready laserpowered softkill system capable of defeating electro

UK plans to launch directed energy weapons development project this year

optically guided sensors on missiles in the next three years.

Thales has been developing the system for several years, but started searching for an international partner after a lack of funding support from the MoD.

MBDA’s German subsidiary also possesses extensive laser DEW experience, having tested a counter rocket, artillery and mortar system, using 40kW of laserpower in 2012.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies senior air analyst Doug Barrie said Laser DEW systems can dazzle or destroy electrooptical sensors on aircraft and missile sensors, as well as damage the platforms themselves in some cases.

“One application could be to counter unmanned air vehicles where the lasers could blind sensors or damage the UAV.

“Another might be a counter rocket, artillery and mortar system.”

The Dstl also awarded a contract to MBDA to run a radio frequency directed energy weapon (RFDEWs) project in October 2013.

The MoD spokeswoman said: “Its purpose is to help improve the MoD’s understanding of how RFDEWs can disrupt or damage electronic equipment and how, in turn, this can be prevented.”

The UK Royal Navy has decommissioned the last Invincibleclass aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, after it clocked up 900,000 miles on operations

Decommissions HMS Illustriousacross the globe in its 32year service.

HMS Ocean, which has recently completed a £65m refurbishment, will replace Illustrious as the nation’s helicopter carrier, before eventually being replaced by two new 65,000t aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

During its service, Illustrious was deployed in the aftermath of the Falklands War, assisted in maintaining a nofly zone in Bosnia in the 1990s and carried out similar activities in the Arabian Gulf in 1998.

The vessel also helped the support mission in the Philippines in the wake of typhoon Haiyan.

HMS Illustrious Photo: UK Royal Navy

Saab has agreed a contract with Rheinmetall Waffe Munition in Germany to provide Naval Laser Warning Systems as sensors to Rheinmetall’s MASS Softkill System in a frigate upgrade program in Asia Pacific.

Saab Grintek Defence has previously joined forces with Rheinmetall Waffe Munition in delivering similar systems to both the German Navy and the UAE Navy. The contract, valued

Naval Laser Warning Systemat MSEK 10 (R14 million), represents a cost effective solution for both the main contractor and end user with hardware delivery expected to be completed by end 2017. An additional contract for spare parts and services is expected to follow in 2015.

Development and production will take place at Saab Grintek Defence in Cape Town, South Africa.



The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has signed a new framework contract with Saab for the supply of its CarlGustaf recoilless antitank weapon.

The deal, which is a followon agreement to a previous fiveyear contract for the weapon, allows the USSOCOM to place orders for weapons and ammunition up to a total value of SEK1.3bn ($187m) over the next five years.

Manufactured by Saab Bofors Dynamics, CarlGustaf is an 84mm reusable, shoulderfired,

More Carl-Gustaf to USSOCOMmultirole recoilless rifle, designed to help troops effectively engage enemy rocketpropelled grenades (RPGs) and machine gun attacks from ranges of 900m and beyond.

Operated by a twoman crew, the weapon also supports gunnery and combat training objectives with subcalibre trainers and fullcalibre practice rounds and simulators.

It has been upgraded and adapted to address new requirements and is currently in use by the armed forces of Australia, Belgium, Canada, India, Germany, Malaysia and Sweden, as well as the US and UK.

One upgrade includes the release of the new 655 CS high explosive antitank round, which is designed to reduce back blast and enable soldiers to safely employ the weapon in confined spaces, minimising the hazardous effects of legacy shoulderfired munitions.

In addition, Saab is currently developing a new, lightweight version of the weapon with additional functionality for future operational needs.

US soldiers training with the Carl Gustaf recoilless anti-tank rifle in Iraq. Photo: US Army/ C. Perez

Work under India’s project 75 indigenous submarine construction programme is currently underway at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai, India.

Approximately six submarines are being built as part of a $4.3bn deal with French naval defence firm DCNS, as part of the Indian Navy’s plans to induct more than 12 submarines to bolster its depleted fleet.

The navy is set to launch its first submarine in September 2015, with three of the overall six submarines currently in their outfitting phase. The systems of the first one are in the ‘set to work’ phase.

According to reports, future submarines will be integrated with air independent propul

Work on India’s domestic submarines underway

sion (AIP) systems for improved endurance capabilities, in addition to the indigenous torpedoes and missiles installed on the Scorpeneclass submarines.

In June, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a $2.25bn tender to domestic shipyards for the construction of 16 shallowwater antisubmarine warfare (ASW) vessels, in a bid to replace the ageing Abhayclass corvettes, which were custombuilt in 1989 and 1991.

Recently, the navy commissioned its first domestically built antisubmarine warfare (ASW) corvette, INS Kamorta, which integrates a native rocket launcher for antisubmarine warfare.

Facing tough international competition, NTG has won its first major contract. NTG will be supplying parts to the Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (KONGSBERG) Minesniper project – in Norway.

In connection with Norway being about to procure a singleuse weapon for destruction of mines, KONGSBERG won the contract against fierce international competition. The Minesniper Mk III itself will be supplied by the KONGSBERG department in Stjørdal. KONGSBERG threw the net wide in seeking parts and components to this product. NTG won the bidding contest against tough competition from both Norwegian and foreign suppliers.

NTG is a company backed up by several manufacturing companies in the Notodden milieu: Berget, NCT, Nopro and Westcontrol Notodden.

The purpose of the collaboration is to streamline the

Breakthrough for Notodden Technology Group AS (NTG)

supply chain towards the customers, with a view to supplying complete systems rather than individual parts from each business. In this way, customers gain a single point of contact and a larger portion of the delivery from one place, rather than having to shop around from many smaller locations.

The businesses behind NTG are each providers of advanced products to highly demanding customers with exceptional demands of precision and quality. The collaboration gives our customers access to all of this competence, and we can deliver products of worldclass quality right here from Notodden. Parts manufactured by the NTG companies are already in service throughout most of the world, and often used under very demanding conditions. Our customers are found in general industry, aircraft and aerospace, defence, and the oil business.

This summer KONGSBERG has signed contracts with Marvin Engineering and Northrop Grumman to a total worth of MNOK 300. Kongsberg Defence Systems (KONGSBERG) has so far this year received orders amounting to MNOK 460 for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter programme.

Among the new contracts is a contract with Marvin Engineering, valued at MNOK 140, for deliveries of AirtoAir Weapons Pylons for production phases 6, 7 and 8 (LRIP 68) of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter. The contracts also include new deliveries to LRIP 13. Marvin Engineering is Lockheed Martin’s main supplier for Weapons

Orders to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter amount to MNOK 460

Pylons. The deliveries will be made over the next two years, and this represents the first actual manufacturing agreement for Pylons.

The contracts with Northrop Grumman valued at MNOK 160 involves supplying composite centre fuselage parts for the F35 fighter. The deal involves deliveries to LRIP 8 and 9, and is a calloff order under a framework agreement for LRIP 810.

In April this year a contract was signed with Lockheed Martin valued at 160 MNOK for deliveries of Rudders & Vertical Leading Edges for LRIP 8 for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter.



NAMMO has been awarded a three year Enabling Agreement by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), for the demilitarization of ammunition.

Under this agreement the MoD will raise tasks for the demilitarization of natures of ammunition considered beyond normal service life. The MoD will however reserve the right to compete larger programs for disposal either direct or through NAMSA. Routine small scale disposals will remain with the MoD’s Shoeburyness facility operated by QinetiQ.

NAMMO Demil is the leading European contractor

BAE Systems and Patria have announced a teaming agreement to pursue a major Australian combat vehicle program.

The two companies will work together to secure the anticipated Land 400 Phase 2 Defence program for the acquisition and support of a Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), with BAE Systems as prime contractor.

Patria is the market leader of modern 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicles and is an ideal partner for BAE Systems. The team will work together to deliver a Patria 8x8 Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) solution to meet the

Nammo signs Ammunition Demil Agreement with MoD UK

BAE Systems and Patria to pursue Land 400 opportunity

specializing in safe and environmentally controlled demilitarization of ammunition with dedicated factories in Germany, Norway and Sweden. All the NAMMO facilities meet the strict National and European requirements for the discharge of effluent through the air, water and ground.

NAMMO have chosen EPC UK as the Teaming Partners for this program expanding on their successful relationship where the facility at Bramble Island has been utilized for storage and onward shipping prior to final demilitarization.

needs of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The two companies will now evolve their solution to the Commonwealth’s CRV requirement before providing additional information around their tender solution.

LAND 400 aims to enhance the mounted close combat capability of Australia’s Land Force. The program will provide armoured fighting vehicles with improved firepower, protection, mobility and digital communications to enable tactical success in current and future operational environments.

The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to develop new surfacetoair missiles and man portable antitank guided missile in the next few years.

The missiles are expected to be designed for different roles, including surfacetosurface, antitank, cruise, longer range and strategic.

Specifically, the shortrange surfacetoair missile is likely to have two vehicle configurations,

Missile development in Indiaand will be supplied to the Indian Army.

Discussing other DRDO projects, Chander said: “We are working on other variations also, so that we have [a] total envelope of surfacetoair capabilities.

“In future, we will aim to work on [a] longer range missile of 200plus kms. We are working on cruise missiles, which will cover ship launch, air launch, submarine launch and ground launch versions.

The Australian defence minister senator David Johnston has said that a deal has been sealed with the US Navy for the procurement of the first four P8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft.

As part of the Advanced Acquisition Contract for Australia’s P8A Poseidon aircraft, an initial payment of $159m has been handed over to the navy for the production, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.

To be deployed by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF),

P-8A aircraft for Australiathe latest procurement would allow the replacement of the ageing AP3C Orion fleet, and enable Boeing to place orders for the initial four P8A aircraft.

With the delivery of the first aircraft scheduled for 2017, all eight aircraft will be delivered by 2018.

A derivative of Boeing’s 737 commercial aircraft, P8A can also be deployed to execute search and rescue, antisubmarine and maritime strike missions by means of torpedoes and harpoon missiles.

Saab has been awarded a contract by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to carry out refurbishments on the Swedish Navy’s Gotlandclass submarine HMS Halland.

Valued at $17.9m, the latest order forms part of the letter of intent concerning the Swedish armed forces’ underwater capability, which was rolled out on 9 June.

Saab business area security and defence solutions head Gunilla Fransson said: “Maintenance of Swedish surface vessels and submarines is an important part of our ongoing business.

“It is also important to ensure the customer’s longterm operational capability.”

To be executed during 2014 to 2015, the overhaul involves the implementation of the required assessments to assure

Saab to overhaul Halland submarine

the submarine’s operational availability.

The Swedish Navy conducts a submarine overhaul programme once every six years.

One provision of the contract is to define future needs for maintenance, which could result in additional work being contracted separately during the period.

Work under the contract will be executed at the Saab Kockums shipyard in Karlskrona, Sweden.

Saab has also been contracted by the FMV to upgrade the navy’s Torpedo 62 heavyweight system, dubbed Torpedo 2000, and support underwater weapon systems.

Currently, all Gotlandclass submarines are equipped with the torpedo system, which fires from 21in tubes.

Sweden has three submarines of the Gotland class Photo: Swedish Navy



Saab has received a contract to develop and supply its new generation GAMER vehicle simulators for the Royal Norwegian Army.

Under the terms of the SEK142m ($20.2m) contract, the company will deliver its BT46 dualsimulator training system to help enhance the army’s training capabilities for live training.

Since 2003, the company has supplied live training equipment for the Norwegian Combat Training Center in Rena, Norway.

Developed from a set of generic components that can simulate future weapons, Saab’s BT46 laser simulator is designed for use on all types of direct firing weapons, from shoulderfired antiarmour guns, to main battle tanks.

The simulator replicates the ballistics and timeofflight of

Saab has received an order from DSME, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. to design and integrate healthcare capability aboard a Norwegian support vessel.

The Norwegian Navy has ordered a support vessel from the South Korean shipyard DSME, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. The support vessel will provide fuel, supplies and medical care for the Norwegian Navy. Saab has received the order from DSME to design and integrate healthcare capability aboard the vessel.

The Norwegian vessel is an LSV, Logistic Support Vessel, and is the size of a tanker, approximately 180 metres long and 26 metres wide. The support vessel will assist the Norwegian Navy’s fleet globally with supplies in the form of food, additional fuel, helicopters for e.g. MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation) plus onboard healthcare capability, for lifesaving surgery.

The healthcare department, which will be designed, integrated and verified aboard the vessel in 2016 by Saab’s busi

Norwegian Army orders Saab’s GAMER vehicle simulators

Design and integration order of healthcare capability for Norwegian support vessel

a projectile in realtime, with a high level of precision, and simultaneously provides realistic feedback to the gunner and the target.

Specifically, the system has the ability to accurately simulate the trajectory or flight characteristics in case of a missile in realtime, and can be modified to address a huge variation of requirements.

The simulator’s builtin gyroscopes augment the system’s performance and allow it to exercise the full range of gunnery techniques for all type of targets.

To date, more than 7,000 systems have been sold by Saab to several users worldwide, as reported by forceindia.net.

Additional contract details, including the number of simulators ordered and their delivery schedule, remain undisclosed.

ness area Support and Services will include an operating and trauma theatre, triage area, high and low dependency ward areas including isolation ward, as well as a CTscanner room.

The vessel will primarily support the Norwegian Navy, but will also be capable of providing humanitarian relief following disasters causing damage to infrastructure.

ROV system for the Swedish Navy

Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for ten ROV systems (Remotely Operated Vehicle), which will be deployed operationally for seabed surveys, inspections, light underwater operations and recovery of objects. Saab will fulfil the deliveries using the Seaeye Falcon system, which is being adapted to meet FMV’s specifications.

The systems, which will be delivered as standalone systems, will be introduced and partially integrated aboard patrol boats and auxiliary ships operated by the Swedish Navy.

The systems will be delivered within 12 months.

Patria Helicopters AB has acquired Malmskogen Aerocenter AB:s business operations based in Linköping in Sweden. The acquisition includes the business operations and employees.

The acquisition will secure the growing business focused on maintenance of helicopters, helicopter components and equipment as well as engines, upgrades and modifications, spare parts and electronic products.

Patria Helicopters AB is an authorized Service Center for Bell, Agusta and Airbus Heli

Patria has acquired Malmskogen Aerocenter AB:s operations

copter. Located at StockholmArlanda International Airport, Patria Helicopters takes total technical responsibility for overhaul and maintenance of helicopters and modifications. High quality, short lead times and competitive prices are company’s trademarks.

Patria Helicopters is part of the Finnish Patria Group, which is a trusted provider of defence, security and aviation lifecycle support services and technology solutions. Patria is owned by the state of Finland (73.2%) and Airbus Group (26.8 %).

Czech company Aero Vodochody Aerospace has agreed to the essential terms of a contract covering the sale of 12 L159 light combat aircraft to the Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD).

According to agreed conditions, the company will supply two twoseater and ten singleseater L159s to Iraqi Air Force (IqAF), along with a complete aircraft package, including ground equipment, spare parts, training and supply of arms and ammunition.

L-159 supply contract for IraqThe company will also re

purchase 11 retired and four active L159 aircraft from the Czech Republic Ministry of Defence.

A successor of Aero L39 Albatros, the L159 advanced light combat aircraft is designed to perform close air support, tactical reconnaissance, air defence, counter insurgency, border patrol and leadin fighter and weapons training missions.

Two Czech Air Force’s L-159 ALCA aircraft in flight Photo: Czech Air Force


GYLLING TEKNIKK

Special battery designGylling Teknikk is located in the Bærum municipality, a citylike community bordering Oslo’s west side. For more than 25 years, the company has been among the chief suppliers of batteries to the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Part of the reason why we have become the important Defence supplier that we are, is our ability to design batteries here in Norway specifically to the needs of the Defence, says Sverre Iversen, General Manager for Gylling Teknikk. As early as several years ago, we reached out to ask the soldiers what were the weaknesses with the batteries then in use with the Armed Forces. On the basis of the responses, we developed a prototype for a new battery, which in turn led to the Defence replacing their standard battery for several types of equipment.

Today, we can look back upon having designed the batteries used by the Defence in advanced weapons systems

But the Norwegian soldiers only own the night for as long as they have

electrical power. With empty batteries, a fully equipped Norwegian soldier is reduced to the technological level of a Taliban warrior.

This dilemma caused one of the managers of the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation FLO to draw his own conclusion: “I don’t need guns and bullets, I need power”.

Recent years have seen the development of a variety of useful equipment for a modern soldier in the field, affording the soldier capabilities that only 10 to 15 years ago were the stuff dreams were made up of. Night vision equipment, weapons sights,

computing power, communications, etcetera all adding significantly to the soldier’s effectiveness as well as to personal safety. But a lack of electrical power renders much of the modern soldier equipment worthless as just so much dead weight. And for soldiers and platforms in the field, electrical power will inevitably spell batteries.

It goes without saying that all military platforms such as vehicles, surveillance equipment, artillery units, drones, aircraft and vessels are completely dependent on electrical power supply. Nonetheless, power supply carries a special significance to the soldier in the field, who will usually have to carry his own equipment in addition to the batteries that power it.

Gylling Teknikk: SUPPLIER OF BATTERIES TO THE NOR WEGIAN ARMED FORCES FOR 25 YEARSWe own the night, said a former Commander-in-Chief, after Norwegian Army forces had proven total superiority in connection with a night attack in Afghanistan. The Norwegian soldiers were equipped with night-vision goggles and marker lamps that separate own forces from enemy soldiers.

Gylling Teknikk has an extensive laboratory for testing of batteries, and has a long history of co-operation with the Defence Research Establishment. From the left, Einar Tolpinrud, Nikolay Jansen and Sverre Iversen. Photo: MilitærTeknikk


GYLLING TEKNIKK

classified as nondangerous goods and can be airfreighted.

We have also developed a charging unit that has been installed in a number of the Armed Forces’ vehicles. This charger prevents discharge of the battery in the event that the vehicle should be left out of use for a longer period.

The start battery of the futureThe battery technology has been subject to a startling development over recent years. Among the important driving forces in this respect has been the electric car industry, says sales engineer Nicolay B. Jansen.

The modern batteries of today are largely based on lithium, and lithium (as in lithiumion) batteries are found in anything from electric car power packs to consumer electrics/electronics like cell phones and tablets.

The use of lithium carries several advantages with it. It is light, giving the batteries a more favourable energy to

such as the Eryx, TOW, Hellfire, Robot 70, as well as various communications systems, Iversen continues, adding that the Defence keeps coming up with requests for the supply of specially adapted power packs.

We design the batteries, Iversen explains, while the manufacturing of the battery cells is done in the USA. The production of the customdesigned battery cases, that is the plastic casings surrounding the battery cells, is done with a subcontractor in the neighbouring Røyken municipality to the west of Oslo.

Start batteries for vehicles For us at Gylling Teknikk, the main breakthrough on the startup battery side came when the Armed Forces completed its migration to diesel power for all its vehicles, says Einar Tolpinrud, department manager for the battery section at Gylling Teknikk. The old start batteries used by the Defence were simply not up to the task,

particularly on cold and wintry days, and there were no batteries readily available on the market available to fulfil the defence requirements. Gylling Teknikk was accordingly awarded a development contract for a new start battery in collaboration with the Hawker factory (known as Enersys today) in Wales.

The result was the battery BB 10N, specially designed to start heavy military vehicle engines in the cold, says Tolpinrud. The battery is built to standard NATO size specifications, and has also found use in civilian applications, such as larger trucks, construction machinery and marine engines.

The battery has low self discharge rates and a storage life of up to two years, while it also has good charge receptivity and can be recharged in a very short period.The BB 10N battery is in extensive use today, in Norway as well as other countries. The battery is robust and able to withstand severe vibrations and shock, while it is also

Gylling Teknikk also accepts lithium batteries in return, for proper waste management according to environmental regulations. For example, the batteries are stored and transported in barrels encased in fire-retardant materials.

Photo: MilitærTeknikkThe A123 is a lithium start battery which in many ways represents a break-through for automobile batteries, says Nicolay Jansen. Photo: MilitærTeknikk

Lithium batteries can be prone to exploding unless properly constructed. The picture shows a mobile phone whose battery blew up. The explosion severed the bearer’s arteries, inflicting fatal wounds.

GYLLING TEKNIKK

The obvious downside of the A123 start battery is clearly the cost. At today’s rates, the price is perhaps 20 times that of an ordinary start battery. We foresee that the price needs to come down to around half that level for the battery to gain significant inroads on the civilian market. But even today, we are seeing some car manufacturers making use of the A123 battery for their most prestigious models. We are accordingly very excited about current and future developments here, says Jansen in conclusion.

weight ratio to that of NiMh or other types of batteries. Lithium batteries can also be discharged and recharged repeatedly without losing capacity.

Based on the lithium battery technology, we can now deliver A123 start batteries, which are in many ways a breakthrough for automotive batteries, Jansen expands.

In addition to being lithium based, the A123 technology is also founded on nanotechnology. The result is a battery technology that has proved itself to work better than the regular batteries of today according to pretty much all parameters.

First and foremost, the A123 start batteries are a lot lighter than today’s leadbased car batteries. This parameter is of particular note to the Armed Forces. While an A123 battery tips the scales at 12 kilograms, a regular lead battery weighs almost double. (The BB 10N battery for heavy vehicles weighs up to 40 kg)

The A123 delivers high starting current, and will power up the vast majority of ordinary vehicles. The battery also has an extremely long service life, and is capable of being fully charged then discharged repeatedly, up to some 5000

times, which means that if the recharge and discharge procedure is repeated on a daily basis, the service life of the battery will extend to 13 years. For comparison’s sake, anyone who has had a car with a leadbased start battery will know that after just a couple of deep discharges, the battery capacity will be severely diminished. Even towards the end of its useful service life, the A123 start battery will retain all but its full capacity.

The battery is also supplied with electronics that shuts off the charging current to prevent any risk of overcharging. Similarly, if the battery is left and for gotten in a battery charger, the electronics will stop the charging when the voltage passes a set level. The battery is accordingly neither harmed by deep discharges nor subject to damage from “overcharging”.

As many people are aware of, lithium batteries use a flammable electrolyte that can attain almost explosive properties if the battery isn’t handled properly. But even here, technology has taken a step further: By way of the nanotechnology, we can safely say that the A123 has a secure technology that precludes any danger of explosive gases or fire.

Gylling Teknikk AS was founded as a Norwegian shareholding company on May 1st 1983. The company has since then been a supplier of batteries, labelling systems and electromechanical products to industry, hospitals and defence. Gylling Teknikk can deliver single components, or make a total solution. A total solution does not merely mean delivering a number of cells or relays connected together. The company has a history of “delving deeper” to find out what the costumer really needs, and then suggesting a solution that often can consist of electronics, tooling and moulding of plastic cases for batteries, relays etcetera.

GYLLING TEKNIKK AS


APEX


Based on ground research under the auspices of the Defence Research Establishment, FFI, NAMMO completed the first

preliminary study of 25 mm APEX ammunition for the fighter plane in 2004, followed by a conceptual study two years later. The development phase was launched in 2009, and progressed in the autumn of 2013 to the qualification phase, which according to plan will be concluded as 2014 draws to a close. The next steps will be the integration and the flight certification phases. The former of these phases will include test firings from the Eglin Air Base in the USA against armoured vehicles, fighter planes, cars and smaller boats. In 2013, NAMMO also conducted a successful test firing of APEX ammunition against an F5 fighter plane that was deployed to the company’s firing range. Seven rounds were fired two against the wings, two against the tail fin, one against the nose, one against the cockpit and one against the fuel tank. If the plane had been in the air, it would either have crashed or been forced to an emergency landing.

The final step will be for the US Air Force to conduct shootings with APEX from fighter planes in 201516, while the US Navy is up for certification work in 2017. NAMMO has enjoyed good support from Australia, including the sharing of the integration costs on a 50/50 basis.

All F-35 versions Dual purpose APEX ammunition is the only kind being planned for all three versions of the stealth fighter – Conventional TakeOff and Landing (CTOL), Short TakeOff and Vertical Landing (STOVL), and the Carrier Version (CV). At the same time, the ammunition is adapted for anything from lighter to armoured targets. Conventional ammunition detonates upon impact, while the APEX has been developed with a delayed blast effect where detonation happens after the round has penetrated into the target. APEX has great penetrative ability in addition to its detonating power and fireinstigating effects. This makes the ammunition outstandingly effective against air targets and in aerial combat,

says program manager for APEX, Eva K. Friis of APEX, in Nammo’s Medium & Large Caliber Division.

Useful ground researchThe FFI ground research into the APEX ammunition was financed through government support via the fighter plane project. A series of calculations and simulations into penetration were carried out, as well as fragmentation in shooting against different targets. The results laid the groundwork for the shaping of the projectile, to see how it behaved in flight. It has been determined that the APEX will penetrate targets such as the Russian armoured attack vehicle BMP2.

The research was very useful, in particular concerning the development of the fire pipe. Until today, we have employed two fulltime positions per year, and the work of FFI continues, says project manager HegeKristin Jødahl.

APEX AMMUNITION SOON TO BE QUALIFIED FOR F-35 The Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter aircraft is about to enter air force service in several western nations. Norway will get its first two in 2016. NAMMO can already look back on more than ten years’ consecutive work on the development of 25 millimetre APEX ammu-nition for the stealth fighter’s GAU-22/A Gatling cannon. The development work was concluded in the summer of 2013. The end of the qualification work is in sight. Initial operative use of the ammunitions type is expected in 2016.

Key Figure: Programme Manager Eva K. Friis has been a key person in the development work for the next generation of aircraft ammunition, the 25 mil-limetre APEX ammunition for the F-35 fighter plane.


NSM

All test requirements were fulfilled and the US Navy gained insight into the

NSM capabilities like target seeking, range and survivability. This is the first time an Independence class vessel fires a longrange missile and the first time the US Navy tests the Naval Strike Missile.

We are of course very pleased that the US Navy evaluates the NSM missile, says Pål Bratlie, Executive Vice president at Kongsberg Defence Systems. However, this agreement carries no obligations beyond the demonstration itself.

The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is an antiship and landattack missile developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA).

The Naval Strike Missile has been chosen by the Royal Norwegian Navy for its new Fridtjof Nansen class frigates and Skjold class patrol boats. In 2008 the NSM was selected by the Polish Navy, which ordered a total of 50 landbased missiles.

The design and use of composite materials is meant to give the missile sophisticated stealth capabilities. The 3.95 meters long missile weighs slightly more than 400kg (880lb) and has a range of more than 185 km (100 nm).

On September 23 the US Navy test fired Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) at Point Mugu test range in California. The missile was launched from USS CORO-NADO, an Independence class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). At a range of 100 nautical miles (185 km), the missile followed a pre programmed flight pattern and hit spot on a predefined point of impact on the target vessel.

US NAVY TESTING NSM

The NSM is designed for litto-ral waters (“brown water”) as well as for open sea (“green and blue water”) scenarios. NSM is able to fly over and around land masses, travel in sea skim mode, and then make random manoeuvres in the terminal phase, making it harder to stop by enemy countermeasures. Ill. KDA

USS Coronado, an Independence class LCS, which tested the NSM in September this year. The American Navy plans to build a total of 12 vessels of this type. Photo: US Navy

Last year the Norwegian Navy tested the NSM against a decommissioned frigate. The 125 kg high explosive warhead produces a significant hit. Photo: Norwegian Navy


NOBLE LEDGER

Norway is the host nation as 6500 NATO solders from Denmark, the

Netherlands, and Germany join forces with Norwegian soldiers for exercises. The purpose of the Noble Ledger exercise was to prepare the NATO Response Force for international collaboration. The NATO Response Force counts a total of 13,000 solders, consisting of land, sea, air and special forces from several of he NATO member nations.

NOBLE LEDGER

Tents from the Norwegian Army’s depots are made ready for Exercise Noble Ledger. The tents, which are supplied by Nord Lense, are held erect by inflatable high pressure air chambers. This makes it possible to raise a tent inside just half an hour. The pressured air chambers should be checked every two weeks, but will normally retain air pressure for more than six months before replenishing is necessary.

A Dutch AH-64 Apache attack helicopter over Norwegian forests Photo: FMS

A Dutch CV 90 camouflaged in forest terrain in the Østerdalen valley, 100 miles (150 km) north of Oslo. Photo: FMS


CAMERAS FOR ARMOURED VEHICLES

ISSN 0806–6159Publisher/Utgiver:Norsk Militærteknisk ForlagPrinsens gate 22, N-0157 OSLO

Administration/Administrasjon:Castra ASOrg.nr. NO 971 161 531 MVA

Editor-in-Chief/Ansvarlig redaktør:M.Sc./Siv.ing. Bjørn Domaas JosefsenE-mail: [email protected]

Editorial Office/Redaksjon:Prinsens gate 22, N-0157 OSLOTlf. (+47) 22 41 60 77Fax. (+47) 22 41 60 11

Denmark; Andreas Krog, E-mail: [email protected]

Marketing Director/Markedsansvarlig:Knut Berg E-mail: [email protected]

Advertising Office/Annonser:Prinsens gate 22, N-0157 OSLOTlf. (+47) 22 41 60 41Fax. (+47) 22 41 60 11

Subscriptions/Abonnementservice:Tlf. (+47) 22 41 60 77Fax. (+47) 22 41 60 11

Design/layout:Molvik Grafisk AS

Printed by/Trykkeri:X-ide Larvik

ARMOURED VEHICLES GET CAMERAS FOR ACCIDENT PREVENTION

Civil engineer Bjørn Nygård is the man behind the development of the pressure washer system for the cameras on the armoured vehicles.

The driver’s video monitor is giving a complete overview of what is going on around the vehicle.

Text and photo: Tor Husby

The background for the project is the fatal accident at Rena in 2009, where

an armoured vehicle reversed over and fatally injured a young female soldier. The driver of the vehicle had no rearward vision. The Army does not want to see a repetition of a tragedy like this. This initiated the launch of the project.

The second in command at BTV, and manager of production, Major Knut Leikvam, informs us that while Saab has developed the camera technology and

determined the location of the cameras, the engineers at Bjerkvik have developed the control system as well as the pressure spray washing of the tiny cameras. Civil Engineer Bjørn Nygård is the master of the latter aspect, and has found space for a 9 litre – 2 gallon – washer reservoir with a spray pressure motor integrated in the tank. The Swedish armoured vehicles will soldier on without this refinement.

MonitorsNygård takes us inside the vehicle, which is being built to function as an aid station

for medics, and demonstrates the placement of the water tank, water hoses and video monitors. Both the vehicle driver and personnel in the rear of the vehicle can monitor the surrounding environment from a computer monitor at each location. With the cameras activated, we can see everything that is located in front of and around the vehicle. The vehicle where we sit is one of a total of 16 such vehicles, built specifically for evacuation of casualties from the battle fields.

Saab and BTV are complementing each other, and here at Bjerkvik we have devised unique solutions whereby we spend some 15 hours in the preparation and completion of each armoured vehicle. Furthermore, we achieve a high degree of costefficiency, and we retain the competence within the Armed Forces as we complete the project. We will also be performing maintenance on the equipment in its operational phase, says Project Manager Karl Erik Karlsen.

Bjerkvik: Approx. 340 of the Army’s armoured vehicles of the M 113, Leopard, Fuchs and Sisu types will have cameras installed in front, in the rear, and on both sides. Bjerkvik Tekniske Verksted began work on this in 2013, and promises to complete the job before the end of 2015. The total costs of the project will run to some 140 million NOK (16 MEUR).

Returadresse:

MilitærTeknikk, Prinsens gate 22, N-0157 OSLONorway

4-5/2014 - startsiden | fsi · the easiest answer is to point to social problems like the ... the...

Documents