INTERNATIONAL: The trusted source for defence technology information since 1976

Issue 4/2010
August/September
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 INTERNATIONAL
Contents
The trusted source for defence technology information since 1976 issue 4/2010
Command… Dynamically
Paolo Valpolini 8
In a military world that is increasingly oriented towards digitisation, command
posts are evolving rapidly in terms of command, control, communication and
computer systems.

What Will They Be Up To Next?

12 Drone update

Eric H. Biass

Nasty and Fired from Under

16 Vehicles: weapons
12
Paolo Valpolini

Corvettes Can Play Jaws

24 Naval: corvettes

Thomas Withington

South Africa’s Defence Industry:

30 Turning the Corner?
Market report
16
Helmoed Römer Heitman

Combat Aircraft Fighting for…

36 Sales!
Aircraft: combat

Roy Braybrook

24
The Soldier as Nucleus
42 Soldier systems

Johnny Keggler

Wheels and Deals at DSA 2010

48 Shows & exhibitions

Conrad Schiller
36
Live Field Testing with Thales
52 What’s Up?

Paolo Valpolini

2 Index to Manufacturers and Advertisers

42
4 Business
Compendium
54 Digest by

Urban Warfare Compendium Supplement

Paolo Valpolini, inputs from Eric H. Biass

armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010 Urban Warfare

 Index to Advertisers Sales of the F-22 Raptor, seen here crashing
through the sound barrier, have crested at
AM General 33 ITT 15 Patria 23 less than one-third what was projected. To-
Index
day, super technology and national demands
Argon 41 Kollmorgen Electro-Optical 11 Rafael C4 play second and third violin to tight budget
ATK C4 L-3 Communications 23, 47 Raytheon BBN Technologies 19 restraints. See article on page 36.
Brunswick CGP 27 Laser Devices 33 Recon Robotics 5
Ceradyne 7 Lemo 55 Remington 9
Curtiss-Wright 21 Meggitt Training Systems 29 RUAG Land Systems 21
Defence IQ 39 Meprolight 11 Rubb Buildings 17
Defensys 2010 C3 MTU 3 Saab 21
Elbit Systems 7 Navantia 29 Symetrics 41
FLIR Government Systems 5 Northrop Grumman 13 Textron Marine & Land C3
General Dynamics Itronix 45 NovAtel 15 Ultralife C2, C2
General Kinetics Engineering 7 ODU-USA 41
IMDS 2011 35 Oto Melara 19

Entries highlighted with blue numbers are found in the Urban Warfare Compendium

Index to Manufacturers
Companies mentioned in this issue. Where there are multiple references to a company in an article,
only the first occurence and subsequent photographs are listed below.

AEI 17 Flir Systems 6 Pilatus 4

Aerosud 34 FN Herstal 16, 18 PMP 31
Aerovironment 6, 1, 2 FNSS 48, 49 PNI 18
AgustaWestland 50, 51 Fuchs Electronics 32 Qinetiq 4, 14
Air Robot 3 Fulcrum 34 RAC-MiG 38, 50, 51
Alenia Aeronautica 4 Gatehouse 4 Rafael 16, 17, 24, 22
Amper Programas 9 Geke Schutztechnik 23 Raytheon 4, 24, 28, 36, 42, 13 Volume 34, Issue No. 4, August/September 2010
Ansys 34 General Atomics 4 Raytheon BBN Technologies 6
AP Labs 4 General Dynamics 36, 37, 13 Recon Optical 22 INTERNATIONAL
Argon 6, 44 General Dynamics ATP 23 Remote Reality 8, 14 is published bi-monthly in Zurich, Switzerland.
Argon ST 6 General Dynamics C4 Sys. 44, 54, Reutech 28, 32 Copyright 2010 by Internationale Armada AG,
Ariel 6 20, 22 Reutech Defence 32 Aeulestrasse 5, LI-9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein.
Artec 10, 11 General Dynamics ELS 9, 49 Reutech Radar Systems 32, 34
Head Office: Armada International,
Arvin Meritor 52 General Dynamics Information Sys. 4 Reutech Solutions 32 Hagenholzstrasse 65, CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland.
Associated Industries 42 General Dynamics Itronix 42, 55 Rheinmetall 6, 26, 28, 3, 6 Phone: +41 44 308 50 50, Fax: +41 44 308 50 55,
ATE 31, 32, 40 General Dynamics Land Systems 31 Rheinmetall Canada 17, 18, 20 e-mail: mail@armada.ch;
ATK 28, 49, 4 General Electric 37, 38 Rheinmetall Defence Electronics 9 www.armadainternational.com www.armada.ch
Aurora Flight Sciences 3 Greenerg 43 Rheinmetall Denel Munitions 30
Automotive and Industrial Design 31 Hal 38 Rippel Effect 34 Publisher: Caroline Schwegler
Harris 44, 56 RSD 34 Editor-in-Chief: Eric H. Biass
BAE Systems 8, 14, 20, 26, 28,
Editor/Artwork: Johnny Keggler
32, 38, 51, 6 Hawker Beechcraft 4 Ruag 4, 23, 24 Advertising & Production Manager: Thomas Schneider
BAE Systems Hägglunds 8, 9 Heckler & Koch 17, 50 Saab 4, 6, 14, 32, 37, 51, 6, 12 Administration: Marie-Louise Huber
BAE Systems LS OMC 11, 30, 31 Hirth 14, 12 Saab Avitronics 34
BAE Systems NSS 24 Honeywell 4, 8 Saab Barracuda 4 Regular Contributors: Roy Braybrook, Paolo Valpolini,
Boeing 4, 6, 25, 26, 36, 44, 50, 51 Hybricon 4 Saab Bofors Dynamics 25 Thomas Withington
Boeing Phantom Works 40 IAI 14, 40, 6 Saab Electronic Defence Systems 4
Advertising Sales Offices
Bollé 55 IAI Elta 24 Saab Systems 20 Austria, Benelux, Switzerland
Boustead Naval Shipyard 51 IBD Deisenroth 23 Saab Systems Grintek 32 Cornelius W. Bontje
Bumar 22, 49 IHI 40 Sabiem 31 Phone: +41 55 216 17 81, cornelius.bontje@armada.ch
CAE 4 IMI 17 Sagem 6, 12, 14, 20, 22, 13
Cambridge Consultants 13, 18 Indra 14, 6, 12 Saint Gobain 4 France
Promotion et Motivation, Odile Orbec
Camero 1, 12, 16 Inmarsat 4, 8 Salyut 40 Phone : +33 1 41 43 83 00, o.orbec@pema-group.com
Carl Zeiss Optronics 30, 34 Iridium 6 Sapura Thales Electronics 50
Caterpillar 53 Irkut 50 Sargent Fletcher 12 Germany
Chengdu 40 IST 4 Sarnoff 10, 14 Sam Baird
CIS 22 ITT 54, 22 Saturn 40 Phone : +44 1883 715 697, sam@whitehillmedia.com
Cobham 4 Iveco DV 17 Savi Technology 6 Italy, Nordic Countries
Cockerill 49 Iveco-Oto Melara 11 Schiebel 4, 10 Emanuela Castagnetti-Gillberg
Coco Communications 18, 20, 23 Ivema 34 Selex Communications 11 Phone : +46 31 799 9028, egillberg@glocalnet.net
Codan 42 Kockums 4 Selex Galileo 17, 38, 4 Spain
Controp 4 Kollmorgen Electro-Optical 8, 13 Shenyang 40 Vía Exclusivas, Macarena Fdez. de Grado
Cummins 52 Kongsberg 8, 10, 16, 17, 53, 8 Sierra Nevada 12 Phone: +34 91 448 76 22, macarena@viaexclusivas.com
Curtiss-Wright 4 Kongsberg Maritime 4, 6 Sikorsky 51
Cybaero 14, 6, 12 Kontrol 4 Simrad Optronics 6 United Kingdom
Zena Coupé
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Eng. 51 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann 10, 20, 53 Singapore Technologies 4, 10 Phone: +44 1923 852537, zena@expomedia.biz
Daimler 34 L-3 Communications 2 Singapore Technologies Kinetics 22
Dassault Aviation 12, 36, 38 L-3 Cyterra 12 SME Ordnance 50 Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Datron 4, 8 L-3 Linkabit 54 Snecma 38 Laguk Co. Ltd., Yuri Laskin
DCNS 25, 49, 50 L-3 RCCS 43, 44 Spectrum Signal Processing 4 Phone: +7 495 912 13 46, ylarm-lml@mtu-net.ru
Deftech 48, 49 Land Mobility Technologies 34 Stemme 12 Eastern USA – East of the Mississippi River
Denel 24, 30 Lemo 46 Steyr-Daimler-Puch 10 Margie Brown
Denel Dynamics 30, 31, 32 Liming 40 Sukhoi 40, 50 Phone: (540) 341 7581, margiespub@rcn.com
Denel Land Systems 31, 50 Lockheed Martin 4, 6, 36, 37, Supacat-Babcock 4 Western USA – West of the Mississippi River
Denel Saab Aerostructures 30 44, 51, 2, 10 Sysdel 34 Diane Obright
DEW 4 MBDA 25, 26, 36, 4 Tadiran Spectralink 43 Phone: (858) 759 3557, blackrockmedia@cox.net
Diehl BGT Defence 38 Mechem 31 TDA 49, 50
Asia
Draganfly 3 Mercedes-Benz 49 Tellumat 34 Dr. Rosalind Lui
DRS Technologies 42 Metal Storm 20, 22 Thales 6, 38, 46, 50, 52, Phone: +65 64587885, drrosalind@tsea.com
Druck 18 Micro Power Electronics 44 53, 4, 10
EADS 10, 12, 34, 54 Mitre 54 Thales Communications 16 Arabic Countries
EADS Defence Electronics 4 Mitsubishi 36 Thales Defence Systems 30, 34 Shayma Ghandour
Phone: +971 50 125 3709, shayma.ghandour@hotmail.com
EADS Defense & Security 11 Moh-9 34 Thales Underwater Systems 28
Ecomat 53 Mowag 9, 49 Thoroughtec 34 All other countries: contact the Head Office
EDH 34 Naza Defence 49 ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems 51
Elbit Systems 4, 10, 17, 18, 1, 2 Nexter 8, 11, 26, 54, 8, 13 Tikhomirov 40 Annual subscription rates:
Electro Optic Systems 22 Northrop Grumman 4, 6, 12, 22, Truvelo Armoury 34 Europe: CHF 186. + 36. (postage)
Overseas: USD 186. + 36. (postage)
Elektrobit 20, 22 36, 51, 54 Turbomeca Africa 30
Embraer 51 Novatel 18 Tusas 37
Controlled circulation: 22,388, certified by
EMT 2, 3, 4 Novator Design Bureau 25 UAV Navigation 4 ABC ABC/WEMF, valid from autumn 2009.
Eureka Aerospace 14 ODF Optronics 10 UEL 4
Eurocopter 31, 32, 48, 50, 51 Oerlikon Contraves Canada 17 Ultracell 44, 46 Printed by Karl Schwegler AG, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Eurofighter 38, 51 Optsys 8, 13 Ultrafine 14 ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004, FSC COC 100012
Eurohawk 12, 54 Oshkosh 6, 17 Ultralife 46, 20 and EKAS certified. Date of first certification 1992.
Eurojet 38 Oto Melara 20, 22, 26, 49 United Defense 8 Armada International, ISSN 0252-9793, is published
Euroradar 38 Otokar 17, 18 Urban Aeronautics 6, 12 bi-monthly by Internationale Armada AG and is
Eurotech 43, 44 Overberg Test Range 31 Utri 3, 6, 8 distributed in the USA by SPP, 95 Aberdeen Road,
Eurotorp 28 Pakistan Aeronautical Complex 40 Western Shipyard 6 Emigsville PA. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA.
Evpù 22 Panasonic 42 Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei 28 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
Ewation 34 Panhard 20, 22, 53 WZM 49 Armada International, c/o PO Box 437, Emigsville, PA
17318-0437.
Fincantieri 4 Patria 4, 6, 11, 49 Zvezda 25
Fischer Connectors 46 Phazotron 38, 40 ISSN: 0252-9793

2 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010

Business
Gatehouse and Inmarsat have signed a
co-operative agreement towards devel-
oping the Bgan SDR Platform to the
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) pro-
gramme. As mentioned on page 12 of
Armada’s Tactical Radio Compendium
2010, the Danish company had success-
fully demonstrated running its Bgan
waveform on an SDR 4021 transceiver
from Spectrum Signal Processing.
Boeing has reported the arrival of six
new F/A-18F Super Hornets to the
Royal Australian Air Force Base
Amberley on 6 July. The Super Hornets
are fitted with Raytheon’s APG-79
Active Electronically Scanned Array
(Aesa) radar. These aircraft expand the
Kongsberg Maritime has delivered the
first JHSV Helicopter Operations Sur-
veillance System (Hoss) to General
Dynamics Information Systems for
integration into the Joint High Speed
Vessel (JHSV). The Hoss system is
designed to monitor flight deck opera-
EADS Defence Electronics will, under a
€ 43 million contract, supply the Finnish
Defence Forces with a nationwide data
fusion system, designated the Multi-
Sensor Tracking System. Under this second
phase award, EADS will implement a data-
fusion system until 2016.
Supacat-Babcock has received a £ 45
million contract from the British Min-
istry of Defence covering another 140
Jackal 2a patrol vehicles to support the
UK armed forces in Afghanistan. The 2a
variant introduces a new cab design with
integrated mine blast protection.
Of Special Note

RAAF’s F/A-18F fleet to eleven, with
another 13 to be delivered by 2011.
Saab received a SEK 100 million order
from Kockums to design and integrate a
new combat management system for the
Swedish boat builder’s programme to
design the country’s next-generation
submarines.
Saab Barracuda has received a SEK 670
million award from an unspecified cus-
tomer to provide its multi-spectral
camouflage products over the next four
years.
N
tions, even in very low light conditions,
from the flight deck.
Boeing has announced the completion
of Australia’s Joint Project 2043 High
Frequency Modernisation programme.
The HFMod project provides long-
range fixed and mobile communications
to the Australian Defence Forces.
Pilatus has handed over the first of six
PC12 NG multi-purpose liaison aircraft
to the Finnish Air Force. Under a € 22.5
million order, Pilatus should deliver six
aircraft by August of this year.
orthrop Grumman has
announced it will compete as
prime contractor for the US
Army’s Emarss programme, which
includes a low-risk/low-cost, enhanced
ISR design from the Hawker
Beechcraft 350ER aircraft. The
Enhanced Medium Altitude Recon-
naissance and Surveillance System
(Emarss) outline includes four engi-
neering and manufacturing develop-
ment aircraft to be delivered within 18
months, with another four on option to
be delivered within one year of option
execution.

Big Deals in Short

Company Amount Event From Whom
Lockheed Martin $ 3.9 million Develop rifle-scope attachment to enhance markmanship Darpa
Cobham $ 46 million Produce AN/ALQ-99 for EA-6B and E/A-18G US Navy
Kontrol Undisclosed Acquired 100% of company AP Labs
Curtiss-Wright $ 19 million Acquire electronic packaging company Hybricon
Saab SEK 230 million Continue maintenance and support of Gripen Swedish FMV
Boeing Not applicable Delivered first Space Based Space Surveillance system US Air Force
Northrop Grumman Undisclosed Deliver two full navigation suites for U212A submarines Fincantieri
Alenia Aeronautica Not applicable Reported C-27J Spartans reached 10,000 flight hours Italian Air Force
Lockheed Martin $ 245 million FMS sale of three KC-130J tankers Kuwait
Boeing Not applicable Completed technical tests of Increment I of BCTM programme US Army
IST Undisclosed Supply a further 28 Wolfhound heavy tactical support vehicles UK MoD
Elbit Systems $ 130 million Supply C4I and electronic warfare systems Latin American country
Raytheon $ 368 million Begin low-rate initial production of Standard Missile-6 US Navy
Saint Gobain Not applicable Launched Onesuit Pro gas-tight hazard suit International
Patria € 42 million Continue training and tech support of Vinka fleet Finnish Air Force
General Atomics $ 195.5 million Sky Warrior enters initial production for ER/MP programme US Army
CAE Not applicable MH-60R avionics maintenance trainer enters service US Navy
Qinetiq Undisclosed Announced its Talon robots used under Talisman programme British Army
Saab Undisclosed Provide Giraffe AMB radar system Australian Defence Force
Northrop Grumman $ 175 million Advance procurement for LHA-7 production US Navy
Raytheon Not applicable STSS satellites detected/tracked ground-based interceptor US MDA
General Atomics Undisclosed To supply arresting gear and launch system for CVN-78 carrier US Navy
Ruag Not applicable Announced teaming agreement for protection technologies DEW

4 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010

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Business
Northrop Grumman has completed
flight demonstrations of the MQ-8B
Fire Scout vtol drone under extreme
conditions in the United Arab Emi-
rates. The ten-day test period validated
the Fire Scout’s maturation toward
upcoming US Navy operational evalua-
tions onboard the USS Halyburton
(FFG-40).
Patria has signed an order with the
Finnish Navy to upgrade the Rauma class
fast attack vessels, which were built in
the early 1990s. The € 64.7 million con-
tract will see work completed between
2010 and 2013, with Patria as the prime
and Saab, Western Shipyard and Kongs-
berg Maritime, et al, as subcontractors.
Boeing’s Silent Eagle F-15E1 demon-
strator aircraft completed a successful
first flight on 8 July. During the flight the
aircraft opened and closed its left-side
conformal weapons bay, which contained
an Aim-120 instrumented test vehicle
missile, which was not fired.
Rheinmetall has completed the takeover
of Norway’s Simrad Optronics after a
public buyout bid to the shareholders,
effectively giving Rheinmetall 100%
control of Simrad’s stocks. Simrad
Optronics produces electro-optical
devices, remote-control weapon stations
and weapon system upgrades.
Boeing has announced its intentions to
acquire Argon ST for approximately
$ 775 million. Argon ST develops C4ISR
and combat systems, and under this move
will become a stand-alone subsidiary of
Boeing and a new division of Boeing
Network & Space Systems.
Rheinmetall has received an order from
the United Arab Emirates to equip the
country’s Abu Dhabi class vessels and
Falaj 2 class stealth ships with the Multi
Ammunition Softkill System (Mass) sys-
tem. This contract, along with the Ger-
man Navy’s award to outfit four F125
class frigates, brings the total value to
€ 12.5 million.
6 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Lockheed Martin completed the critical
design review for the US Navy’s Com-
munications at Speed and Depth pro-
gramme. The concept is to provide real-
time two-way communication without
requiring the boats to ascend to
periscope depth. Hardware and engi-
neering design models are expected in
early-2011.
Oshkosh Defense received two delivery
orders totalling $ 600 million from the
US Army for nearly 1900 new and recap-
italised, severe-duty Heavy Expanded
Mobility Tactical Truck (Hemtt) A4
vehicles, as well as more than 530 Pal-
letized Load System trailers. Deliveries
under this order will continue through
September 2011.
Thales has signed an agreement with the
royal Navy of Oman to provide its Vig-
ile 200 and 400 electronic support
measures systems for Omani patrol
boats and corvettes. The Vigile range
monitors, measures and analyses electro-
magnetic signals to provide a situational
awareness picture in open ocean and lit-
toral environments.
Boeing has unveiled its unmanned
Phantom Eye drone demonstrator – a
hale system that is designed to stay aloft
at 65,000 feet for up to four days. The sys-
tem is powered by two 2.3-litre, four-
cylinder, 150-hp engines, has a 45.72-
metre wingspan and is designed to cruise
at 150 kt with a 200-plus-kg load.
Raytheon BBN Technologies was award-
ed an additional $ 6.14 million in Darpa
funding under the Multilingual Automat-
ed Document Classification, Analysis
and Translation (Madcat) programme.
The programme’s goal is to create a pro-
totype system that provides accurate, rel-
evant, distilled, actionable information
by automatically converting foreign lan-
guage text images, such as road signs and
handwritten notes, into English tran-
scripts.
Argon was selected by Boeing to pro-
vide its RWS15 rugged workstation/
laptop as a Support Equipment Comput-
er for the C-17 programme. The Intel
Core 2 Duo machine includes a DVD/CD
RW drive, a legacy 3.5-inch floppy drive
and USB, Ethernet and RS232 port con-
nectivity. The computing system will be
used in support of flight line testing and
other activities.
Flir Systems has received a $ 5.4 million
award from the US Customs and Border
protection to provide its Star Safire HD
stabilised multi-sensors to certain air
assets patrolling the borders of the Unit-
ed States. Deliveries are expected to be
completed by end-2010.
Savi Technology has shipped 50 Portable
Deployment Kit mobile tracking sys-
tems to the US Marine Corps Expedi-
tionary Forces in Afghanistan. The kits
use Radio Frequency ID, GPS and Iridi-
um modems to communicate via satellite
to the Department of Defense’s In-Tran-
sit Visibility network.
Sagem has reported the successful maid-
en launch of the 250-kg AASM missile
demonstrator with terminal laser guid-
ance. The new version combines GPS
with inertial and laser guidance, which
allows the AASM to engage agile land or
sea-based targets. The test launch from a
Rafale fighter saw the missile hit a target
25-km distant, which was illuminated by a
DHY-307 ground illuminator.
Aerovironment has announced the first
aircraft developed under the Global
Observer Joint Capability Technology
Demonstration programme has com-
pleted ground tests in preparation for
flight testing. Under the programme, for
which six US Government agencies pro-
vided more than $ 120 million in funding,
this first aircraft will be loaded with com-
munication relay and ISR payloads in
preparation for developmental flight
tests.
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Protector
Vehicles: C4I

Command…
Dynamically!
In a military world that is increasingly oriented towards digitisation, command modified into M1 BCV vehicles, with gun
and installations mocking those of the
posts are evolving rapidly in terms of command, control, communication and Bradley BCV, but apparently none have
computer systems. Although miniaturisation allows the ’squeezing‘ of an ever been produced.
increasing number of C4I assets into smaller spaces – even allowing light vehi-
cles to be used as C2 mobile elements – bigger wheeled or tracked vehicles ded- Good Ol’ Bradley
icated to the command function, and able to keep up with vehicles of similar As the need for a modern command post
class, are still needed. remains, and following the cancelling of
the Future Combat Systems programme,
which included a command post, BAE
Paolo Valpolini mobility as the Abrams and Bradley vehi-
cles. Four ATCCS (Army Tactical Com-
Systems is proposing its Bradley Com-
mand Post or BCP. A dedicated vehicle
mand & Control System) workstations similar in architecture to the M577,

I
n the tracked vehicle category, many
western countries still field the ‘good
old M577’ – the characteristic raised
roof of which has marked most of the
Cold War era – because the end of the
two-block confrontation sounded the
death knell on many programmes aimed
at upgrading heavy fleets, especially sup-
port vehicles. The years that followed
showed the steep emergence of the
wheeled vehicle. Although wheeled vehi-
cle numbers were initially declining as
infantry fighting assets, they have infil-
trated the ranks of many other configura-
tions – command posts being no excep-
tion – even if all users of a given wheeled
infantry fighting vehicle type have not
(yet) ordered their command post coun-
terpart. Battlefield digitisation is, howev-
er, increasing the need for such vehicles,
while further augmenting the type of
equipment that is needed on board.
In the early 1990s the US Army was
fielding numerous M1068 SICP (Stan-
dard Integrated Command Post) in the
A2 variant, a version of the M577A2, and
then decided to acquire more modern
command posts with the M4 C2V (Com-
mand and Control Vehicle), based on the
chassis of the MLRS rocket launcher,
itself a derivative of the M2 Bradley chas-
sis. The new vehicle was to be used as a
tactical command post at corps and divi-
sion level and as a tactical operations cen-
tre at brigade and battalion level, provid-
ing command posts with the same
were installed in the rear compartment, although much more modern in terms of
with internal/external communications mobility and C4I suite, the BCPs would be
via a local area network. However the obtained from recycled Bradleys bereft of
programme was stopped after 25 of the their turrets, but with raised rear compart-
400 forecast vehicles were produced, ment roof to increase internal space – the
these were kept in storage at United prime aim being to achieve logistic com-
Defense’s facilities, now part of BAE Sys- monality with the Bradley family.
tems. 15 of them were eventually The US Army is still developing mis-
deployed in Iraq in 2003, but the US sion requirements for its new command
Army still relies mostly on the M1068A3 post, therefore no details are available,
SICP, the A2 version with the Rise (Reli- however the modular approach adopted
ability Improvement for Selected Equip- by BAE Systems ensures enough space,
ment) powerpack. weight and power to accommodate all
Another programme that stalled early current and foreseeable C4I options
in its life is the Bradley Battle Command
Vehicle. This was based on an M2
Bradley, the rear compartment of which
was equipped with an enhanced C3 suite,
which included three workstations and a
Multi Processor Unit (MPU) hosting the
Automated Battle Command Software
(ABCS). Line-of-sight communication
was provided with Sincgars, EPLRS and
NTDR radios while satcoms were also
available. Aimed at brigade and battalion
commander level, it allowed them to
move to the battle while keeping their
command capabilities; the brigade level
vehicle had four radio nets, division com-
mand and intelligence and brigade with
the Satom 103 radio and the soon-to-be-
fielded Inmarsat satellite system. Only The CV9035 Mk III command and
four such BCVs were produced, and control vehicle is the latest configuration,
these were successfully used in operation and features an open electronic
by the 4th Infantry Division during Iraqi architecture allowing for easy integration
Freedom. Some Abrams were also to be of C2 systems. (BAE Hägglunds)

8 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010


The Pizarro command post variant adopted by the Spanish Army is very similar to the
IFV version but the gun is inoperative.The rear compartment (right) hosts a four-man
command team. (GDELS)
aimed at supporting net-centric opera-
tions. With accommodation for five mis-
sion specialists in the rear compartment
and a crew of two up front, the combat
weight of the BCP would lay somewhere
between 27 and 34 tonnes. The prototype
features a Protector remote-control
weapon turret for self-protection and
what looks like a satcom-on-the-move
antenna at the rear, while an auxiliary
generator is installed on the right side of
the driver, as in the M577.
The Piranha command post version has
a considerable extra volume in the
rear due to the roof, which has been
considerably raised compared to the
standard version. (Mowag)
CV90
BAE Hägglunds has developed the com-
mand post version of the CV90 much to
the requirements of customers who
favoured a vehicle similar in appearance
to the standard IFV. The main difference
between the two obviously lies in the seat-
ing arrangement, which is reduced from
seven to four (six in the Swedish version).
Seating for two command personnel is in
the far back and located on the sides look-
ing forward, while those in the middle of
the vehicle look inwards, each is equipped
with a desk and a computer.
The command version of the CV90
has been delivered to Sweden, Switzer-
land and the Netherlands. Sweden
received 56, two of which in the upgrad-
ed C version with better protection. Swe-
den also received 42 Fire Control Com-
mand Post versions. Switzerland received
a total of 56 vehicles, in two versions,
namely Command & Control and For-
ward Observer, while the Netherlands
acquired 33 command vehicles. As radios,
battlefield management systems and
other suites were all GFE equipment, not
many details are available, although it is
clear that each nation installed its nation-
al C2I system. The latest version, the Mk
II, features an open, scalable electronic
architecture which can easily integrate
most modern subsystems; it has ad hoc
connectivity to firewall-protected red
Lan, and the network can access all vehi-
cle sensors.
Pizarro
The Spanish Army acquired 21 Pizarro
tracked vehicles in the command post
configuration as part of its initial first
order, which also included 123 infantry
fighting vehicles, the equivalent of about
three battalions. A second order, played
down from 212 to 191 vehicles and which
initially included five more command
posts, will bring 106 more IFVs into serv-
ice to equip two more battalions, as well
as other specialised variants, but no addi-
tional command posts. With five battal-
ions thus equipped, the 21 CPs would be
sufficient to equip brigades and battalion
level command posts.
The Pizarro CP is very similar to the
standard fighting vehicle as it retains the
turret and the gun barrel; however, the lat-
ter is in fact a fake as it does not have any
firing capacity, having been deprived of all
the components hosted inside the turret.
The Pizarro CP’s only weapon is thus the
7.62-mm MG3 machine gun (if one
excepts the twelve 76-mm smoke grenade
launchers), the turret is manually operat-
ed with an elevation arc of -10°/+30°, but
even the traverse motion is limited to ±
The layout of the CV90 CP; the vehicle
normally hosts four elements in the rear
but in the Swedish version these are
increased to six. (BAE Hägglunds)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Vehicles: C4I
90° in order to increase the available space
in the rear compartment. Observation sys-
tems are also much reduced; essentially to
day optics (although intensification sys-
tems can be adopted).
The crew of three remains (driver,
commander and gunner), while the rear
compartment accommodates a command
group of four. The C2 suite is centred on
the Spanish Army Simacet (Sistema de
Mando y Control del Ejército de Tierra),
developed by Spanish Amper Programas
and based on Rheinmetall DE battle
management system. The Pizarro CP also
hosts two removable computers, two
main screens, one printer and a suite of
HF/VHF radios that include three PR4G
series VHF units and one HF high-power
station, internal comms being provided
by a digital interphone.
Among the various versions of
command posts based on the Piranha
some are also equipped with radio
relays. (Mowag)
The other peculiar element is the aux-
iliary power unit, in the form of a diesel
power generator providing 3.5 kW of rec-
tified 24V DC electric power when the
main engine is shut down. A rear tent
increases the available space. The lack of
gun moving elements and firing chamber
as well as the lack of the 30-mm ammuni-
tion puts the Pizarro CP combat weight at
28 tonnes compared to the fighting vehi-
cle’s 30.
Piranha
Amongst the wheeled vehicles pack is the
ubiquitous Piranha family manufactured
by Mowag, now part of General Dynam-
ics Land Systems Europe. The range
includes numerous command post ver-
sions adopted by different countries.
Sweden ordered a 10 x 10 CP version for
its coastal artillery, Spain an amphibious
CP version for its marines, Belgium is
receiving its first CP versions as part of a
contract for 138 vehicles with options for
up to 24 CPs, while Switzerland decided
to transform its 6 x 6 Piranha Is previous-
ly used as anti-tank vehicles into protect-
ed command posts. Not many details are
available. However, the standard Piranha
IIIC 8 x 8 version (also ordered among
others by the Swiss Army) has a height of
2.94 metres, the rear compartment has
been raised considerably to increase the
9
Vehicles: C4I
Four command staff are hosted in the
Pandur command post version, which
has been acquired by Portugal. (Steyr
SSF)
internal volume to 15 metres3. A 40 kVA
auxiliary generator is installed behind the
driver to supply power to the C4I suite
when the vehicle’s engine is shut down. A
12.7-mm machine gun is mounted behind
the driver and is activated by the com-
mander/gunner; due to the raised roof
and other impediments its arc of fire in
azimuth is limited to 170°. Denmark has
acquired two Piranha III command posts
while Brazil is also known to have
acquired some command post versions
for its naval infantry unit.
The Stryker, which has its roots in the
Mowag Piranha, also has its command
post version. Supplied to US Army Stryk-
er Brigade Combat Teams, it is armed
with a Protector/Crows II (see the article
devoted to this subject in this issue) and
maintains the same chassis as its stable
mates. In order to allow command conti-
nuity, the Stryker Command Vehicle is
able to connect to its own deployment
transport aircraft power and antenna sys-
tems and thereby allow its crew to con-
tinue planning in flight.
Pandur
Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug,
another European General Dynamics
company, has developed a CP version of
its Pandur. Amongst the 240 Pandur 8 x 8s
acquired by the Portuguese Army 16 will
be command posts (twelve of which have
already been delivered at time of writing).
The vehicle has a two-man crew, namely
the pilot and the commander/gunner seat-
ed in tandem on the left side, the latter
having a manual weapon station that can
accept anything from a 5.56-mm machine
10
gun up to a 40-mm automatic grenade
launcher. This is complemented by two
series of four grenade launchers each
located on the aft sides of the roof. Inside
the rear compartment four staff personnel
are seated side-by side, looking to the right
at desktop PCs, two 19-inch TFT screens,
two double vehicular radio mounts and a
150-Watt HF amplifier. On the top left of
the roof sits a 300-A/28V DC auxiliary
power unit driven by a water-cooled diesel
engine. Far aft a tent is stored on the top of
the roof, which can be used with the vehi-
cle itself, or can be interconnected in an ’I‘
or ’L‘ pattern (seen from above) if and
when two or three vehicles form a higher
echelon command post. The hull stands
2.18 metres proud although all-out height
is 3.26 metres.
A drawing of the Pandur command
post. The air conditioning and
auxiliary power units are visible on the
vehicle roofs. (Steyr SSF)
Boxer
The German and Dutch armies have both
acquired the 8 x 8 Boxer manufactured
by Artec, a joint Rheinmetall and Krauss-
Maffei Wegmann effort, and both have
ordered the CP version of that vehicle.
Germany will receive 65 Führungs-
fahrzeuge – the vehicle maintaining
exactly the same characteristics of the
armoured personnel carrier version, 2.37-
metre hull roof height included. Tipping
the scales at 33 tonnes the Boxer is one of
the most highly protected vehicles in its
category. The crew is relatively limited
with driver and vehicle commander plus
only three in the rear compartment (the
military commander and two staff mem-
bers). Their seats can be tilted, but in
operation one looks rearwards and two
are left to face the working table. The C4I
The Boxer
command post
version in travelling
configuration; in
the German Army
these vehicles will
be deployed from
brigade to
company level.
(Artec)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
suite is centred on the German battlefield
management system known as Führungs-
Informationssystem Heer with software
developed by EADS.
The Boxer CP will be issued from
brigade down to company level, and as the
number and type of radios will differ, the
vehicle will be delivered with an adapta-
The 40-inch screen used in the German
command post version of the Boxer to
show overall operational pictures and
for planning briefings. (Artec)
tion kit. The Boxer CP has been equipped
with a 40-inch screen, which is normally
tilted 30° to allow all occupants to see it,
but it can also be further rotated in order
to face the back of the vehicle to brief
lower level leaders. Last April the proto-
type was undergoing final trials. Delivery
of the first production vehicles to the Ger-
man forces is expected to take place
around October or November 2010.
The Dutch Army, for its part, will
receive a total of 55 Boxer CPs equipped
with a battle management system devel-
oped by Elbit Systems in Israel, which
also supplies its Enhanced Tactical Com-
puters, communication devices and soft-
ware. The delivery of the first Dutch CP
Boxer is scheduled for 2011 for brigade
and battalion levels. However, these vehi-
cles will not be the only command vehi-
cles in service with the Koninklijke Land-
macht, as the Netherlands also ordered
19 C2/Cargo variants. Derived from the
Cargo version, this vehicle is particularly
versatile as it ensures the C2 function,
although only with a single working posi-
tion and soldier, while in the remaining
space it can host either three more sol-
diers or up to 1.5 tonnes of cargo; a
stretcher can also be carried during case-
vac missions.
VBCI
The French Army has ordered 110 VBCI
8 x 8 command posts; the score might
appear high in regard to the number of
VBCI thus far ordered in the fighting ver-
sion, but the CP will not only be deployed
with infantry regiments, but also with cav-
alry regiments, specifically those running
the Leclerc tank. While the chassis is
untouched, the one-man turret is replaced
by a remote-controlled weapon station in
the form of a Kongsberg Protector armed
with a 12.7-mm machine gun. Inside the
vehicle is equipped with the Sir (Service
d’Information Régimentaire) regimental-

The radio rack of the command post
Boxer. The Netherlands has adopted
the C2 version as well as a Cargo/C2
version. (Artec)
level command and control working sta-
tion; this system is installed by EADS
Defense and Security following delivery
of the vehicle by Nexter.
Nexter started to deliver the VPC
(Véhicule Poste de Commandement) in
the second half of 2008 and in May 2010
thirty-seven such vehicles had joined the
French Army, the last deliveries being
forecast before mid-2013, as part of the
third batch of VBCI ordered.
Centauro
In Italy the Iveco-Oto Melara consortium
produced a command post version of the 8
x 8 armoured fighting vehicle derived from
the Centauro, known in the past as VBC
(combat armoured vehicle), which then
became the VBM (medium armoured
vehicle) and finally the Freccia in the Ital-
ian Esercito. Exhibited in 2004 at Eurosato-
ry, it was based on the then VBC with a
hull height of 2.1 metres and could host five
operators in the rear compartment plus a
crew of two. A Hitrole 12.7-mm RCWS
mounted in the central position was the
only self-defence weapon, in addition to
the two sets of four 80-mm grenade launch-
ers mounted on both sides of the roof at the
rear. Also up top, but in the aft right corner
was a 2.5-kW auxiliary power generator for
engine-off operations, two extra batteries
The first prototype of a Centauro command post (left) featured a raised roof and a
radio relay antenna; the Italian Army decided to scrap the latter and to use the same
chassis of the Freccia IFV. (Armada/PV)
allowing C4I equipment to work for two
hours at -10°C. The vehicle featured a com-
plete C4I suite as well as a radio relay with
telescopic mast-mounted aerial.
However, at Freccia contract time the
Italian Army shifted to a different com-
mand post structure, which will include
not only a specialised vehicle similar to
the one described above, albeit with some
modifications (it will maintain the same
two-metre roof-top height as the combat
version, will host six operators in the rear
and carry a Hitrole Light turret), but also
a combat command vehicle based on the
IFV Freccia configuration.
Within medium brigades and regi-
ments (this definition applies to the units
equipped with the Freccia) the command
posts will be formed by two vehicles, a
command element on the CP vehicle and
a tactical command element on the com-
bat command vehicle. A system of servers
will be installed, linked to four worksta-
The high-roof version of the Patria AMV
has been selected by some undisclosed
countries to be fitted as armoured
command posts. (Patria)
tions equipped with PC terminals avail-
able in the rear compartment. These will
be loaded with the Siccona 2A command
and control system, the vehicle itself being
equipped with the Siccona command and
navigation system and will be part of the
digitised net created by the Freccia vehi-
cles. A suite of communication equipment
will be available and will include a Selex
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Vehicles: C4I
Communications CNR 2000 HF radio, a
Sincgars VHF radio, a wideband UHF
radio, a Have Quick UHF radio with sat-
com capability and a wideband satcom
system operating on the Sicral satellite X-
band. In perspective a satcom on-the-
move system will be installed. Finally a
radio system compatible with that of the
Soldato Futuro is also included.
The combat command vehicle will be
equipped with similar systems but will
have only two working positions. Radio
systems will also be similar but the vehicle
will only be fitted for the satcom systems,
which will be installed when needed. Each
brigade will have two command posts, one
Due to financial constraints the
command post of the Oto Melara
Dardo armoured IFV remained only at
prototype stage. (Armada/PV)
for the commander and one for his
deputy, while each infantry regiment will
also have two command posts, one for the
regiment and one for the battalion com-
mander, which means that each brigade
will need eight command post and eight
combat command vehicles, without
counting combat support units.
AMV
Patria of Finland developed a High Roof
variant of its Armoured Modular Vehicle
(AMV), which is about 40 cm higher than
the standard version, to reach a height of
2.7 metres, over a length of 7.9 metres and
a width of 2.8 metres. The combat weight
of this version is 27 tonnes, i.e. one tonne
more than the fighting vehicle. It was
developed with ambulance, workshop
and command post applications in mind.
Optional equipment such as an auxiliary
power generator, hydraulic telescopic
mast and electromagnetic pulse protec-
tion are available. Some vehicles – blown
to 3.1 metres in height and 8.2 in length –
are ready to be delivered to an undis-
closed (an undefined) customer. Due to
non-disclosure agreements with cus-
tomers over the number and configura-
tion of command post vehicles, no further
details are available.
Lighter
Naturally lighter vehicles are also used as
command post vehicles, such as the
KMW Dingo 2 and BAE Systems RG35
and RG31, but these fall into a different
category and could be part of a forth-
coming article. a
11
Drone update

Northrop Grumman
photomontage of a Global Hawk
buddy-buddy refuelling operation

What Will They Be Up To Next?

It was bound to happen sooner or later. First drones established themselves as systems in ferry flight that will take it to
their own right with military forces (although it took time), and then they started to be its main operating base in
Schleswig, and finally enter
armed, and now they are to buddy refuel in flight! Although simulated approaches involv- service in 2012.
ing tankers and demonstrators have been performed in a relatively recent past, Northrop
Grumman is to pioneer the full nine yards. Males
Moving down in altitude
Eric H. Biass our questions regarding the
exact type of aircraft to be
hours later at Edwards after
reaching an altitude of
capabilities, the French
Sagem Patroller passed

A
s described in our title modified, the weight penalty 32,000 feet. The aircraft – a some critical milestones on
photograph, the test incurred by the refuelling Block 20 – is understood to 24 June with a two-hour-26-
will involve two Glob- system and timescales. What- be in its basic configuration minute flight, which validat-
al Hawks and a hose-and- ever the latter may be, how- with a mock-up mission ed its triplex flight control
drogue fuel transfer. This ini- ever, the event will certainly package. Intended as a sigint system. It was also the
tiative was sparked off by the go down in the books of avi- aircraft due to replace the Patroller’s first flight in full
award of a $ 33 million Darpa ation history. ageing Dassault-Breguet drone mode, without pilot on
contract to Northrop Grum- Another recent event that Atlantiques still in service in board (earlier flights had
man on 1 July 2010 in a pro- involved a Global Hawk air- Germany, the Euro Hawk been performed in ’drone
gramme known as KQ-X, frame core design was the will be ferried to Manching mode‘, but with a back-up
and is to culminate in a fully maiden flight of the Euro in Germany, where outfitting pilot onboard). The Patroller
autonomous fuel transfer Hawk. This took place at with the EADS-developed is derived from a Stemme
operation. But why between Northrop Grumman’s Palm- suite will be completed. The S15 aircraft.
two Global Hawks rather dale facilities in California aircraft in its final configura- Designed to operate at a
than between a Global Hawk on 29 June, and the aircraft tion is scheduled to take to ceiling of 26,000 feet and to
and a conventional tanker, landed just short of two the air on the occasion of the offer an endurance of 30
one may ask? Well, simply
because the Global Hawk,
being a hale drone, operates
at ceilings that are way
beyond the reach of conven-
tional tankers – or any other
airliner for that matter – and
therefore such refuelling
operations would allow the
drone to replenish its tanks
safely well above the interna-
tional air traffic space.
While Northrop Grum-
man said the Nasa Dryden
Flight Research Center, Sar-
gent Fletcher (hardly sur-
prising) and Sierra Nevada
would be involved in the The first Block 20-based Euro Hawk developed by Eurohawk (a 50-50 Northrop Grumman-EADS
project, the company was, at company) had its maiden flight on 29 June over Palmdale, California. Not yet the intended sigint
time of going to press, unfor- mission aircraft it is intended to be, it will be outfitted with its ad hoc electronics suite by EADS in
tunately unable to answer Germany. (Northrop Grumman)

12 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010

 The height of ISR knowledge.
www.northropgrumman.com/globalhawk

RQ-4 HALE ENTERPRISE

The world’s preeminent high-altitude, long-endurance
unmanned airborne intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance system is the basis for the RQ-4
Global Hawk. Able to provide unprecedented real-time
situational awareness for decision makers in operations
around the world, it covers vast geographic areas,
flying at 60,000 feet for over 30 hours, while carrying
advanced sensors. The RQ-4 provides the capability
necessary to gather information critical for responding
© 2010 northrop Grumman corporation

to natural disasters or to keep coalition troops safe

while they keep us safe.

USAF GLobAL HAwk . USN bAMS UAS . NASA GLobAL HAwk . EURo HAwk® . NATo AGS
Drone update
system for ship operations»,
adding that the company
also intended to develop its
own lightweight synthetic
aperture radar.
The development of the
Pelícano is receiving support
from the Spanish Govern-
ment, since the programme
is aimed at a Spanish Navy
requirement to equip its six
Bam vessels. Specified by the
Navy are a 100-km range and
a four-hour endurance. A
prototype, which is not in its
final configuration, is cur-
The Patroller landing at Istres in searing heat on 1 July. One of rently being flown for test
the underwing tanks can be substituted for a synthetic aperture purposes, although Indra
radar pod, in which case endurance is reduced to 25 hours. In says that the development
military theatre operation, the pilot’s station is replaced by a
high-flow rate satellite aerial. (Sagem)
Indra official explained that
the company is providing
training and support to Span-
ish soldiers deployed in Kali-
nao. Indra is in fact the only
Spanish company to operate
drones in Afghanistan, if one
includes the Pasi, which is a
Spanish-configured IAI
Searcher Mk 2, which features
inter alia a proprietary IFF
unit and navigation system
(interestingly enough, the
Spanish-developed autopilot
is also used by IAI).
Another new develop-
ment at Indra is the Mantis
(no relation whatsoever with
the male drone demonstra-

hours with full inboard wing
and external wing tanks, it is
offered as a multiple-service
drone operated by the
French Air Force. In other
words, it would be operated
by the Air Force on behalf of
those that might need it.
Should it be required to
operate in the civilian air-
space for forestry service or
coastal surveillance missions,
for example, the aircraft
would use an onboard pilot
and yet remain under the
control of the ground station
– with the pilot being there as
a back-up due to the normal
air traffic and possible emer-
a while ago, although this has
recently been submitted to a
major redesign. An electronics
company with a finger in
many major system pro-
gramme pies, Indra clearly
wants to take a strong
foothold on the drone market,
and this was clearly visible at
the recent Eurosatory exhibi-
tion in France in June.
A rather noticeable drone
on Indra’s stand was the Pelí-
cano helicopter. Very clearly
based on the Swedish
Cybaero design (also adopt-
ed by Saab for its Skeldar),
the Pelícano will soon be
powered by a 55-horsepower
The 2.10-metre-span Mantis is a hand-launched, electrically
powered drone offering an endurance of 60 to 75 minutes. On
landing, its large flaps are deployed and the aircraft is put in a
deep-stall flight configuration to soft-land almost vertically. It has
a line-of-sight range of ten kilometres. (Armada/EHB)
and testing of the ground tor developed by BAE Sys-
control station has been tems). A hand-launched
completed. While the version fixed-wing drone, it currently
equipped with its heavy fuel is being evaluated by the
engine is due to take to the Infanteria de Marina (the
air this fall, the fully capable, Spanish marine corps) as a
finished product is due for one-man system. This light,
completion in early 2012. 5.2-kilo aircraft currently
Strangely enough, drone features an interchangeable
operations over Spain are sensor nose package and a
banned and the nation has no laterally-looking, software-
flight test range for this pur- stabilised infrared camera. It
pose. As a result, Indra’s also carries a laser illumi-
drone fight tests take place nator-ranger and a blue force
in… Afghanistan! The same tracking facility. a

Indra has developed an interesting multi-sensor multi-role

stabilised sensor turret, which it calls the MMP. This comes in Pelícano Data Sheet
three different sizes with field-detachable balls. With two or
four-axis stabilisation, these can house 8-12 or 3-5 µm infrared The currently envisaged specifications of the Pelícano
sensors, a zoomed high-resolution colour television camera, a are as follows:
laser designator and an eye-safe laser ranger. (Indra) Length over tail rotor: 3.40 metres
Fuselage width: 0.96 metres
gency landing. The aircraft is dieselised version of its cur- Rotor diameter: 3.30 metres
currently flown with a Sagem rent petrol-running Hirsh Max TOW: 200 kg
belly-mounted stabilised engine. As explained to the Max payload: 30 kg
Euroflir 250 ball, but can author by the Indra official Max fuel: 52 litres
receive the larger Euroflir in charge of drone business, Max speed: 185 km/h
410 instead. «we selected the Cybaero Endurance: 4 hrs
[airframe] because it is a Datalink range: 100 km
Indra Shows Mettle proven platform, but we inte- Max take-off/landing wind speed: ten metres/sec
grate our own electronics The Pelícano runs on JP5 fuel, carries a stabilised elecro-
A company that is entering [including] the IFF module, optical payload including an infrared camera, features a
the drone scene in a big way is the datalink, the autopilot, deck-locking system and a redundant autopilot. Future
Indra, well so to speak, since stabilised turret and we are developments might include a Ka-band synthetic aperture
the Spanish company intro- developing our own auto- radar, electronic warfare sensors and light armament.
duced its fixed-wing Albhatros matic take-off and landing

14 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010

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Vehicles: weapons

FN Herstal’s
range of turrets
now includes this
new medium
«deFNder»

Nasty and Fired

from Under
The sharp increase in the number of light armoured and Mrap-like vehicles now the US Army, but modifications have
upped its weight to 172 kg excluding
operating downrange has generated a need to equip them with light self-defence weapon and ammunition. In late Decem-
systems. Remotely operated systems equipped with electro-optical sensors, ber 2009 Kongsberg signed a framework
possibly with a high elevation firing capability, appear to be the preferred solu- multi-year contract with the US Army,
tion in terms of protection, as they can also be installed on heavier vehicles in a which increased the number of Crows II
turrets from 6500 to 10,349.
’turret on turret‘ configuration. With such a potential market available, numer- To broaden its applications to light
ous companies are active in the remotely operated light turret business. vehicle needs, Kongsberg has developed
a version that can be used only with low-
recoil weapons such as 7.62 and 5.56-mm
Paolo Valpolini the optronics, while the ammunition box on
the left side is larger than the standard
machine guns. At 74 kg sans weapon and
ammunition, the Protector Lite main-
item, as it can host 96 40-mm grenades and tains a high degree of commonality with

T
he current market leader in this
arena is definitely Kongsberg of Nor-
way, whose Protector won the US
Army Common Remotely Operated
Weapons Stations II (Crows II) contract
in August 2007 and has been selected by
another 16 countries, leading to an overall
order book of more than 15,000 systems
and a production run of 400 units per
month. The original M151 weapon station
has a weight of 135 kg, excluding weapon
and ammunition, and can be armed with
12.7-mm and 7.62-mm machine guns and
40-mm automatic grenade launchers. The
number of weapons for which the turret is
qualified is increasing as new customers
add to the list.
The standard layout includes smoke-
grenade launchers. It is fully stabilised and
equipped with a colour daylight camera
with a 45° field of view for surveillance
and a x30 magnification for target identi-
fication and sighting. A thermal camera
with dual field of view is installed for night
vision. Super-elevation also allows a cor-
rect aiming when an AGL is in use.
The requirements of the Crows II bid
for the US Army led to a modified version
of the M151 known as the Protector Crows
or XM-153 in US Army parlance. This
incorporates lateral ballistic protection for
400 12.7-mm, 1000 7.62-mm and 1600 5.56- the M151. Its maximum elevation reach-
mm rounds. Installed on a plethora of vehi- es 75° compared to 60° for the Protector
cles, the American version is equipped with and the Crows. Numerous improvements
indigenous sensors and laser rangefinders. are in the pipeline at Kongsberg in terms
The thermal camera has a 3° and 11° field of integration of missiles and rockets.
of view and a x2 E-zoom while the daylight Another future option will be a motion
colour camera has a zoom providing a con- detection system that will increase the
tinuous field of view from 1° to 45°. Its fire system’s capabilities in the recce role.
control system includes a four-axis inde-
pendent targeting system with three-axis Israel
vector stabilisation as well as an auto-track-
er and an auto-lead. The Crows version is of Israeli companies are very active in the
course qualified for the weapons in use by weapon station business. The Rafael
A Crows II armed
with a 40 mm
grenade launcher
pictured on an
American vehicle in
Afghanistan. The
latest contracts
brought the total
number of such
systems ordered to
over 15,000
pieces.
(Armada/PV)

16 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010


Mini-Samson is a stabilised system that
can host the typical range of weapons,
from 5.56-mm to 12.7-mm machine guns
and 40-mm grenade launchers, which can
be replaced in a plug-and-play mode and
accept optional add-on such as anti-tank
missiles, anti-structure munitions and
smoke grenade launchers.
At 140 to 160 kg above-deck weight
without weapon and ammo, it features a
CCD day camera, an uncooled thermal
imager with dual fields of view and its fire
control system provides an auto-tracking
capacity. The ammunition load goes from
800 5.56 mm to 600 7.62 mm, 400 12.7 mm
and 96 40 mm. The maximum elevation is
70°, which is higher than the 60° of the
Samson Jr., which is designed for 7.62 and
5.56 mm weapons and features the same
optronics as the Mini, but its weight over
deck is reduced to between 60 and 75 kg
without weapon and ammo.
The Mini-Samson is in service in Israel
and Spain, the former planning to install it
on the Namer personnel carrier while the
latter has it on its the RG-31 Mk 5E. Oer-
likon Contraves Canada (now Rhein-
metall Canada) has produced it as the
Protected Weapon Station for its latest
M113 derivatives, but numerous other
customers have remained undisclosed.
The Mini-Samson has also been man-
ufactured in Britain by AEI under the
name Enforcer, although production has
been shifted to Selex Galileo. The
Enforcer is installed on British Panthers
and in limited numbers on Challenger IIs
and Bulldogs used in Afghanistan (the
last contract was signed in July 2009 for
over 40 turrets to be mounted on Ridge-
The Kongsberg XM-
153 Protector,
armed with a 12.7-
mm machine gun,
is probably the
most widely used
Western world
turret of its kind.
(Armada/PV)
back vehicles). As for the Samson Jr, it is
in use by Israel; other customers have not
been disclosed.
Elbit also provides two different tur-
rets, the ORCWS 12.7 and the ORCWS
7.62. The former is designed to be armed
with weapons ranging from 5.56-mm
machine guns to 40-mm grenade launch-
ers. Its sensor suite includes a thermal
vision system, a day camera, a searchlight
and a laser rangefinder, while its fire con-
trol system features dual-axis stabilisa-
tion providing fire-on-the-move capabili-
ty against static and moving targets,
thanks to auto-tracking. The ORCWS
12.7 weighs less than 150 kg and offers a
maximum elevation of +60°. It was
ordered by the Austrian Army for instal-
lation on its 150 Iveco LMVs, as well as by
Elbit Systems’
ORCWS 12.7 has
been ordered by
Austria, which will
install it on its Iveco
LMVs. It can also
be armed with a
40-mm AGL. (Elbit
Systems)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Vehicles: weapons
the Romanian Army which uses it on part
of its Piranha III fleet.
At Eurosatory 2010 Elbit Systems
unveiled a new turret, the DRWS (Dual
Remote Weapon Station), which is a
derivative of the RCWS-M adopted by
the Austrian Army. It essentially differs in
its weapons; the primary being either a
40-mm automatic grenade launcher or a
12.7-mm machine gun, while the second-
ary is a 7.62-mm machine gun. This allows
the operator to use weapons that best suit
a given situation, for example; 40-mm
non-lethal grenades, but maintaining a
lethal capacity in case things worsen. The
other feature of the DRWS is its ability to
operate in surveillance mode in which the
weapons are pointed at their maximum
elevation while the sensor group contin-
ues to scan the vehicle’s surroundings.
The DRWS maintains a high commonal-
ity with the other Elbit Systems turrets,
including a +60° maximum elevation.
The Samson Jr,
developed by
Rafael, is another
option for light
vehicles which look
for light machine
gun self-defence
systems. (Rafael)
The smaller and lighter RCWS 7.62
mm is also fully stabilised and is dedicat-
ed to lighter vehicles, this due to its com-
bat weight of less than 150 kg including
the standard load of 690 7.62-mm rounds
(although this can be increased to 1150).
Customers include Slovenia (Otokar
Cobra 4 x 4) and Bulgaria (Oshkosh
Sandcat 4 x 4).
Israel Military Industries produces a
range of weapon stations called Wave. The
Wave 100 Advanced Stabilized Remotely
operated Weapon Station (ASRWS) is a
fully stabilised system equipped with a
daylight camera with continuous zoom
and a thermal camera for night aiming and
surveillance; the latter mode also includes
a video motion detection, while firing is
assisted by image stabilisation and auto-
tracking. The Wave 100 can accept a 7.62
or a 12.7-mm machine gun, and has a
weight without weapon and ammo of 160
kg, with an elevation arc of -20° to +60°.
Ammunition can be hosted in a standard
single case or their number can be
increased by adopting a double case. The
Wave 200 maintains commonalities with
the Wave 100, but adds the option for the
H&K automatic grenade launcher and a
laser rangefinder for improved accuracy.
It can also be equipped with a gunshot
17
Vehicles: weapons
detection system. Its weight is 150 kg and
it sits slightly taller than the 100 (627 mm
versus 600 mm).
Next comes the Wave 300, which is
aimed at those countries using Eastern
European weapons, as it can be armed
with a PKT 7.62 or an NSVT 12.7-mm
machine gun; it maintains most of the fea-
tures and is only 580 mm high. As for the
last addition, IMI is finishing the devel-
opment of its Wave 400, a lightweight and
simple system that can typically be armed
with the Mag M240 7.62-mm machine
gun, but can host also a 12.7-mm weapon.
It is open to upgrades adding stabilisa-
tion, target tracking, etc.
Europe
Selex Galileo is currently proposing a
new version of the Enforcer known as
Enforcer II and its improvements can be
fitted as an upgrade to the previous
model, of which some 500 are in service
with the British Army. Among the new
features is its connectivity to Battle Man-
agement Systems to allow a slew-to-cue
capability and an increased ammunition
capacity. Another important feature is
maximum elevation: while the previous
model was set at 45° powered and 60°
manual, the Enforcer II reaches 60° pow-
ered, with a light increase in height and
weight (from 139 to 156 kg).
FN Herstal’s range includes two mod-
els. The lighter one is known as the LRWS
(Light Remotely-operated Weapon Sta-
tion) which accepts the company’s Minimi
machine gun in 5.56 and 7.62-mm calibre,
and the Mag in the latter calibre. Fully
loaded, the weight of the overdeck ele-
ment ranges between 80 and 90 kg and
offers a unique elevation arc of -60° to
+80°. The optronic suite is modular and tai-
lored to customers needs and can include
low-level TV cameras, thermal imagers
and laser rangefinders. In case of need the
weapon can be dismounted in 15 seconds
to be used by dismounted soldiers.
FN Herstal has recently renamed its
family of turrets “deFNder” (bar
Arrows). The light weapon station has
been joined by a new medium-weight sys-
tem that can integrate machine guns up
to M3 12.7-mm calibres as well as 40-mm
18
Elbit’s ORCWS
7.62 is used by the
Slovenian Army on
its Otokar Cobra
4 x 4 armoured
patrol vehicles.
(Elbit Systems)
grenade launchers. Above deck weight is
120 kg without weapon and ammo, the
maximum ’payload‘ being 230 kg. Its ele-
vation arc of -40° to +70° (depending on
the weapon) is clearly aimed at urban
scenarios. Its sensors include a CCD cam-
era for daylight operations and an
FN Herstal’s LRWS (left) is designed to be armed with the two light machine guns of
that company, the Minimi in 5.56-mm and the Mag in 7.62-mm guise. The Arrows
M2S can host up to the 12.7 mm calibres. Over 600 have been adopted by French
and Belgian armies. (FN Herstal)
uncooled thermal camera for the night,
with standard Nato target detection,
recognition and identification ranges of
8500, 3400 and 1750 metres respectively.
Cooled thermal camera, laser rangefind-
er, stabilisation, ballistic protection,
smoke grenade launchers, autoscan and
autotracking are available options.
The heavier product, developed in the
early 2000s with Oerlikon Contraves
Canada (now Rheinmetall Canada) is the
Arrows. Designed to accept FN’s 7.62-
mm Mag 58S and 12.7-mm M2S and M3S,
its overall weight ranges between 245 and
285 kg, the magazines accepting up to 500
7.62-mm and 200 12.7-mm rounds. Maxi-
mum elevation is 55° and the weapon is
protected by a cover to increase reliabili-
ty. The Arrows is in production for the
Belgian and French armies. If all condi-
tional batches are ordered Belgium will
get 480 such turrets, 322 with the Mag
7.62 and M2 12.7 mounted on the Dingo
2 and 158 stabilised Arrows that are being
mounted on the Piranha IIIC. As for
France, 150 Arrows M2s are expected to
be delivered for the command post ver-
sion of the VBCI, of which 110 have been
ordered so far.
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
The Canadian arm of Rheinmetall has
three more products in this range, the
Amarok, the Qimek and the Nanuk.
Launched in 2008, the Nanuk is fully dig-
ital and stabilised in a universal cradle
that allows it to integrate 5.56-mm, 7.62-
mm and 12.7-mm machine guns as well as
a 40-mm grenade launcher. It can accept
almost any type of optical module, the
standard suite being made of a colour
CCD camera, an infrared dual field of
view camera and a laser rangefinder. The
maximum elevation is 60°, while the com-
bat weight is 300 kg. Longer-range optics
and a rangefinder can be adopted as well
as super-elevation, ballistic protection
and warning sensors. The company
obtained a contract for 34 systems from
the Canadian Armed Forces for installa-
tion on the LAV III (about 18 Nanuks are
currently in service in Afghanistan).
At Eurosatory 2010 Rheinmetall
Canada launched two other members of
this family, the Amarok and the Qimek,
which maintain strong commonalities
with the Nanuk. The Qimek is very simi-
lar to the Nanuk in terms of performance,
but has been re-engineered to reduce its
weight down to 200 kg in combat config-
uration. The Amarok is a light turret that
can be armed with a 5.56 or a 7.62-mm
weapon, with respectively 300 and 220
rounds, and has a combat weight of 105
kg. The optronic suite performances are
adapted to weapon range while
maximum elevation is the same as with
the larger model. The Amarok aims at
the light armoured vehicle market.
Rheinmetall Canada considers 2010 a
The Amarok is the lighter RCWS
proposed by Rheinmetall Canada; it
can be armed with 5.56 and 7.62-mm
machine guns. (Rheinmetall)
Vehicles: weapons
key year with the launch of these two
new products.
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann of Germany
has developed two turrets; the FLW 100
and the FLW 200, the former being a light
turret for a 7.62-mm MG (with a 5.56-mm
as option) while the latter is designed for
a 40-mm grenade launcher, although it
can also host machine guns up to 12.7 mm.
Both of them have a maximum elevation
of 70°, while their respective weights with-
out weapon and ammunition are 80 and
170 kg. Ammunition load for the 7.62 mm
is 120 rounds while the 40-mm launcher
has 32 ready-to-fire rounds. Currently
KMW has an order from the Bundeswehr
for 308 FLW 100s and 260 FLW 200s.
In France Panhard and Sagem Sécu-
rité Défense have jointly developed the
Wasp, which can be armed with 5.56 and
7.62-mm machine guns and is aimed at
light armoured vehicles. At only 60 kg
with weapon and 200 rounds, the Wasp
naturally uses Sagem’s optronics expert-
ise, being fitted with a daylight CCD cam-
era with two fields of view (2.5° and 7.6°)
and an uncooled thermal imager with a
7.8° field of view although a thermal
imager with a 50° field of view is also
offered. Designed as surveillance item, its
elevation arc swings from -40° to +80°.
An order from the French DGA is
expected soon.
In Sweden Saab Systems developed
the Trackfire, which accepts the typical
range of weapon calibres from 5.56-mm
to 40-mm grenades. With the smaller cal-
ibre and 900 rounds the overdeck weight
is about 140 kg, which, of course, increas-
es with heavier weapons. The 12.7-mm
ammunition load is more than 300 rounds
20
Leveraging
experience
garnered with the
Arrows, Rheinmetall
Canada launched
the Nanuk in
2008, which can
accept weapons
from 5.56 mm
machine guns to 40
mm automatic
grenade launchers.
(Rheinmetall)
while in the 40-mm grenade launcher
configuration it carries some 48 ready-to-
fire grenades. The sensor suite includes a
CCD camera with a continuous 42° to
2.3° field of view zoom, a thermal camera
with narrow and wide angles and a laser
rangefinder with a 7500-metre range.
Standard elevation is -20° to +55°. Being
a modular system, the sides of the
U-structure supporting the weapon can
be replaced with taller ones (standard
turret stands 660 mm over deck) to
increase the elevation range in case a cus-
tomer wants to improve the Trackfire’s
capacity in urban situations. Fully sta-
bilised, it can be equipped with a video
tracker module for increased accuracy, as
well as with grenade launchers and a
coaxial mounting. It can also be integrat-
ed with acoustic sensors and with battle
management systems. Currently the
Trackfire is being offered to many coun-
tries worldwide and is taking part in
numerous bids.
The FLW 200 can
be armed with a
40-mm AGL; the
Bundeswehr has
ordered 260 such
systems. (Krauss-
Maffei Wegmann)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
The BAE Systems Lemur SW is
designed to be armed with a 12.7-mm
machine gun or a 40-mm grenade launch-
er. At the IAV Conference held in early
February in London the company gave
some feedback from the three-year com-
mitment of Danish troops in
Afghanistan. Main topics were the
reduced use of ammunition compared to
heavy machine gun soft mounts (down to
one third) and long-range accuracy, with
a confirmed hit at 1879 metres. The Dan-
ish Army intends to install a sensor with
a range of over 2.5 km, a new CCD cam-
era with a x15 zoom and a target designa-
tor to improve identification capacity,
while a second screen will be provided to
the vehicle commander to double-check
positive identification.
The Lemur allows the installation of a
coaxial weapon, in the form of a 7.62-mm
machine gun, enabling the crew to select
the right effector according to the situa-
tion. The ammunition load would be
respectively 64 40-mm grenades and 300
7.62-mm rounds or 300 12.7-mm and 300
7.62-mm rounds. To further increase fire-
power the Lemur can be armed with a
The Redback uses
Metal Storm’s
stacked grenade
principle, which
allows a high rate
of fire and the use
of different types of
ammunition.
Electrically primed,
each barrel can
contain several
grenades. (Metal
Storm)
Gau-19/A 12.7-mm three-barrel Gatling
gun which has a rate-of-fire of 1200 to
2000 rds/min. The Lemur can be integrat-
ed with all manner of battlefield manage-
ment systems and BAE Systems is devel-
oping a counter-roadside bomb version
adding a standoff explosive detector.
In late October 2009 Oto Melara
bagged an order for 81 Hitrole Lights,
which will be installed on Italian Army
LMV Lince vehicles. The system can be
armed with small, medium and heavy
machine guns and grenade launchers,
weight increasing from less than 100 to
100, 140 and 145 kg respectively with
weapon and ammo, the number of ready-
to-fire rounds being 200 5.56-mm, 250
7.62-mm, 100 12.7-mm and 32 40-mm.
Maximum elevation with the two smaller
calibres reaches +80°, but is limited to
+60° with the larger ones. The optronic
suite installed on the right side is modu-
lar and can be adapted to customer
needs.
The Hitrole is a heavier unit in which
the weapon is protected from weather
and dust and is reloadable from under
armour. At 210 kg with 12.7 mm and full
ammo load, a naval version has also been
developed.
FROM INTELLIGENCE
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Our Battlefield Management System (BMS) provides all the intelligence
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Once dismounted, the AT4, Carl-Gustaf and NLAW represent the best
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Vehicles: weapons
Australia
Electro Optic Systems of Australia was
the initial provider of the US Army for
the Crows contract with its R-400, devel-
oped with Recon Optical in the United
States, which was acquired in December
2009 by the Australian group. Some 500
R-400 Crows were delivered to US forces
until 2007. The R-400 is fully stabilised
and is capable to operate typical machine
guns and grenade launchers. Its particu-
larly high flexibility stems from the avail-
ability of 14 adapters for common auto-
matic weapons as well as ad hoc interfaces
for 16 different vehicles. With a weight of
160 kg above deck without weapon and
ammo, it is equipped with a daylight
colour CCD camera with a x30 zoom, a
thermal imager with a x10 continuous
zoom and a laser rangefinder. Maximum
ammunition stowage is 2000 rounds for
5.56-mm weapons, 1200 for 7.62 mm, 500
for 12.7 mm and 96 for 40-mm grenades.
The maximum elevation is 60° and Stanag
Level 2 protection is available for optron-
ics and ammo. Cradles for higher-calibre
weapons are available.
A light version known as Crows Light-
ning was later developed, now marketed as
the R-200. Also fully stabilised, it accepts
5.56 and 7.62-mm weapons and its optron-
ics feature the same systems, with the
exception of the thermal imager, which has
a dual field of view and no continuous
zoom. The weight above roof without
weapon and ammo is limited to 52 kg. Max-
imum ammo stowage is respectively 330
and 200 rounds while the elevation is only
+45°. For urban combat situations Electro
Optic Systems developed a new low-cost
light system, the R-150, offering an eleva-
tion of +85°; unstabilised, equipped with a
dual field of view daylight CCD camera, a
22
Panhard and
Sagem have
developed the
Wasp – a light
turret dedicated to
vehicles such as the
Panhard PVP and
VBL. It was unveiled
at Eurosatory in
2008. (Panhard)
single lens thermal imager and no
rangefinder, its weight above roof is 75 kg.
The most recent addition is the 220-kg R-
600, which came in September 2009. Its
optronic system is similar to that of the R-
400, but offers the possibility of installing
two weapons mounted side-by-side, the
main one either a 12.7-mm machine gun or
a 40-mm grenade launcher, flanked by a
5.56 or a 7.62-mm machine gun. The firm
recently sold four systems to an undis-
closed country for training and testing, but
awaits substantial orders for 2011. EOS
intends to be back on the American market
teamed with Northrop Grumman in view
of the Crows 3 bid, which should be
announced later in 2010 as the Army is
planning to equip all tactical vehicles with
a remotely operated turret in an operation
that may involve over 10,000 systems.
Electro Optic Systems also teamed
with Metal Storm of Australia and Singa-
pore Technologies Kinetics (STK) to
develop the Redback, which is armed
with a multiple-barrel grenade launcher
using the 40-mm stacked munitions sys-
tem developed by Metal Storm. The main
advantage is that this system can provide
a very high rate-of-fire – up to 3000
rds/min – but at a weight cost of only 70
kg including weapon and ammo.
Singapore
Singapore Technologies also proposes
the 40/7.72 RWS armed with both a CIS
40-mm capable to fire air burst munitions
and a 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun (plus
smoke grenade launchers as option).
Equipped with a dual field of view day-
light CCD camera and a single lens night
image intensification camera with a x2
digital zoom (a thermal imager is avail-
able as option), it features a laser
Oto Melara
developed a light
version of its Hitrole
turret, here armed
with a 7.62-mm
MG 42/59
machine gun.
(Armada/PV)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
rangefinder with a 4000-metre range and
offers a maximum elevation of 45°. Fully
stabilised, its weighs less than 300 kg with
weapons and ammo (sixty 40-mm
grenades and 250 7.62-mm rounds).
Eastern Europe
Bumar of Poland has developed the
Komuz module which can be armed with
WKM-B or NSW 12.7-mm heavy
machine guns, UKM-2000C or PKT 7.62-
mm machine guns or with the GA-40
automatic grenade launcher; a Mata-
dor/Panzerfaust 90 can also be mounted.
The Komuz can also be equipped with six
smoke-grenade launchers, the overall
weight of the complete module being 200
kg with weapons and ammo, typically 150
12.7-mm rounds. Sighting devices are the
choice of the customer, with day/night
CCD camera and laser rangefinder being
the normal suite. Offering an elevation of
50°, the Komuz might be adopted on
reconnaissance and patrol vehicles.
In 2008 the Slovak company Evpù
unveiled its ZRSD 07 remotely con-
trolled turret; its latest version is designed
for a PKT 7.62-mm machine gun, while
the first version allowed to install a 12.7-
mm machine gun. It features two daylight
cameras – one for surveillance with a 48°
The latest configuration of the Oto
Melara Hitrole Light armed with a
12.7-mm machine gun; 81 such turrets
will be installed on Italian Army Lince
4 x 4 LMVs. (Oto Melara)
x 36° maximum field of view from an x18
optical zoom plus x12 digital zoom, the
other for aiming, with a 3.7° x 2.8° field of
view. It also comes with an uncooled ther-
mal imager with an 8° x 16° field of view
and x2 digital zoom. Sensors are protect-
ed by a ballistic cover and an external
laser rangefinder can be added. With a
maximum elevation of +70°, the combat
weight of the system is 150 kg with six
smoke-grenade launchers installed on the
sides of the optronic group. Evpù also
developed a 12.7-mm model known as the
ZSRD 08. This carries a surveillance cam-
era with a continuously variable field of
view (from 56.4° x 43.4° to 1.7° x 1.3°), the
same aiming camera as the -07 variant, a
night surveillance camera with a 7.8° x
5.8° field of view and a laser rangefinder.
Maximum elevation is also +70° with a
weight of 200 kg without weapon, ammo
and ballistic protection. a
 Patria delivers Protection
and Performance.
www.patria.fi Patria offers Partnerships
and Potential.

Patria Oyj, Kaivokatu 10 A, FI-00100 Helsinki, Finland, Tel.+358 20 4691, Fax +358 20 469 2022, info@patria.fi

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 Corvettes Can
Naval: corvettes

Play Jaws

Raytheon’s Evolved Sea Sparrow is an

air-defence weapon onboard the United
Arab Emirates Baynunah class corvettes

Until recently the corvette was perceived as little more than a pint-sized frigate, a as it is not dependent on any external
platform smaller and bearing fewer weapons than its larger destroyer, frigate and radar or electro-optical data. In terms of
the corvettes that the Rim-116 outfits, it
cruiser cousins. Today the situation is different. The corvette is changing and so are can be found on the Deutsche Marine
its roles. Modern communication and sensor systems equip these exceedingly ver- (German Navy) K130 Braunschweig class
satile ships along with, as this article shows, a formidable array of weaponry; ships, which are each equipped with a pair
of two-cell missile launchers.
including guns, missiles and torpedoes which can be brought to bear against other
Also designed for ship-based air
naval ships, aircraft, shore targets and pirate and drug smuggler craft. defence is the Israel Aerospace Indus-
tries-Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Barak surface-to-air missile. With a range
Thomas Withington Raytheon Fim-92A Stinger and the
motor from the Mim-72A/M48 Chapar-
of twelve km, the Barak takes its fire con-
trol data from a ship’s target acquisition
ral surface-to-air missile. The Block 1 ver- radar and uses command to line of sight

T
he corvette’s greatest asset is that,
despite its small size and all of the
benefits that this brings in terms of
stealth, these ships are still big enough to
accommodate a missile system for anti-
ship or anti-aircraft defence. In terms of
the latter, Denel's Umkhonto-IR sur-
face-to-air missile uses infrared guidance
to reach targets at a range of up to twelve
kilometres, although a version of the mis-
sile which extends this to 23 km is
planned (see picture in the South African
defence industry report in this issue).
Even though the current Umkhonto is
an infrared-guided weapon, it can be used
in inferior weather conditions if the
launching vessel is equipped with a mod-
ern three-dimensional naval radar. A
datalink can transmit radar information
to the missile and when the weapon is
around one kilometre away from its tar-
get, the infrared seeker can take over to
perform terminal guidance. One of the
Umkhonto’s corvette customers is the
Merivoimat, or the Finnish Navy, which
deploys the missile on its Hamina class
missile boats.
The Umkhonto-IR is joined by
Raytheon's Rim-116 Rolling Airframe
Missile. The firm has leveraged its highly
successful Aim-9 Sidewinder air-to-air
missile into the Rim-116, using this
weapon’s warhead. Several Rim-116 ver-
sions have been produced, including the
Block 0, which uses the Sidewinder mis-
sile’s warhead, the infrared seeker of a
sion enhanced the missile further,
enabling it to perform infrared guidance
all the way to its target, rather than only
for the terminal phase, which allows the
weapon to intercept targets with a low
radar cross section.
Other versions include the so-called
‘Has’ (Helicopter, Aircraft and Surface
targets) version, which resulted from a
Memorandum of Understanding between
the United States and Germany to devel-
op a version of the Rim-116 that could
intercept such targets by adding a soft-
ware modification to the Block 1 missile,
as well as the Sea Ram that combines the
radar from the Raytheon Phalanx Block
1B close-in weapon system (see below)
with the eleven-cell Rim-116 missile
launcher to engage targets autonomously
radar data for guidance. Destruction of
the target is then achieved with a 22-kg
proximity-fuzed blast fragmentation war-
head. The two companies produced this
weapon in three configurations, including
the Barak-1, which was conceived as a
complement for existing ship defence
systems such as the Phalanx. This was fol-
lowed by the Barak-2 (also known as the
Barak-8), which has resulted from a joint
Indo-Israeli development initiative to
devise a weapon with a range of up to 70
km, although the missile can also hit tar-
gets at 500 metres from the ship, provid-
ing a useful point-defence capability. For
guidance, the Barak-2 has a fully active
radar seeker and is launched in a vertical
fashion, while a datalink provides course
and terminal guidance corrections.
Raytheon’s Rim-116
Rolling Airframe
Missile uses
components from a
number of different
missile systems. In
production since
the 1980s, it is
available in its most
recent incarnation
as part of the Sea
Ram autonomous
ship self-defence
system. (US Navy)

24 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010


Along with the Rim-116 discussed
above, Germany’s Braunschweig ships
are outfitted with the Saab Bofors
Dynamics RBS15 anti-ship missile, which
also possesses a residual land-attack
capability. The teaming of the Rim-116
and the RBS15 enables these ships, which
displace only 1840 tonnes, to perform a
wide range of naval missions including air
defence and land attack. The RBS15 has
been designed as a fire-and-forget
weapon allowing a vessel to leave the
area once the weapon has been launched.
The missile navigates using a radar
altimeter and an inertial navigation and
global positioning system. One clever
attribute of the RBS15 is that several mis-
siles can be programmed to arrive at a
target simultaneously from different
directions to overwhelm its defences. In
addition to equipping the German ves-
sels, the RBS15 Mk 2 is deployed on Swe-
den's Visby corvettes. The RBS15 Mk 3,
the latest version of the weapon, has been
earmarked for a number of programmes
and equips Germany's Braunschweig
corvettes, which each carry four RBS15
Mk 3 launchers, and also Poland's Orkan
class ships.
Both the Rim-116 and RBS15 are rel-
atively 'new kids on the block' as far as
corvette missile systems are concerned.
Although it is more usually associated
with larger vessels, MBDA's MM38/40
Exocet anti-ship missile series can outfit
corvette-sized combatants, giving them a
fearsome destructive capability. A
Saab’s RBS15 missile
is a versatile weapon
that can be used for
attacking other ships
or land-based targets.
The missile is
deployed on the
Braunschweig
corvettes of Germany
and Sweden’s Visby
class vessels. (Saab)
corvette armed with the MM40 Exocet
incarnation can hit targets at ranges of up
to 180 km, offering serious over-the-hori-
zon striking power and a major range
improvement on the 70 km Block 2 Exo-
cet. Furthermore, the Block 3's airframe
retains a reduced radar cross-section
along with a low infrared signature. These
two attributes are coupled with enhanced
manoeuvrability, which should help to
improve the missile's chances of survival
in the face of modern ship self-defence
systems. The weapon's resistance to elec-
tronic countermeasures has also been
improved with the addition of a J-band
radar seeker. Rather than purchasing new
Block 3 missiles, navies have the option of
purchasing the Block 3 improvements as
an upgrade kit that can be rolled out
across legacy Block 2 missiles.
A rival Chinese design available for
customers unable to afford or obtain the
Exocet is in the shape of the Yingji-82
(Nato reporting name CSS-N-8 ‘Sac-
cade’). While unlikely to offer the sophis-
tication of its western counterpart, the
Saccade nevertheless has a reported
range of up to 200 km and zooms across
the water at a height of just seven metres
at supersonic velocities. Along with this
Chinese weapon, Russian-designed
corvette armament is available in the
form of the Zvezda Kh-35U (Nato
reporting name SS-N-25 ‘Switchblade’)
anti-ship missile, which is used on the
Indian Navy’s Kora class corvettes, and
the Novator Design Bureau’s 3M-54
MBDA’s Mistral 2
local area air-
defence weapon
can be housed in a
number of
launchers including
the Tetral system
seen here. This has
been selected to
equip the Sigma
class corvette
operated by the
Indonesian Navy.
(MBDA)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Naval: corvettes
Klub (Nato reporting name SS-N-27 ‘Siz-
zler’), which equips the same country’s
Project 28 vessels.
As regards missiles designed to pro-
vide a shorter-range self-defence capabili-
ty, MBDA's infrared-guided Mistral 2 has
been developed as a 'fire and forget'
weapon able to intercept targets at a range
of up to three kilometres with a blast frag-
mentation warhead triggered by a laser
fuze. The Mistral can be used with several
launcher types, including the Sigma 25/30-
mm combined gun and three-missile
launch tubes, along with the Tetral, Sadral
and Simbad launchers which house six,
four and two Mistral tubes respectively. To
this end, the Tetral launcher has been
selected for the Indonesian Navy’s Sigma
class corvettes.
Although the Mistral is a relatively
short-range system, MBDA does pro-
duce weaponry that can reach out to
higher altitudes, such as the Mica anti-air-
craft missile system. The Mica will be
Used on the Royal Malaysian Navy’s
Laksamana class corvettes, MBDA’s
Otomat Mk 2 anti-ship missile system
allows over-the-horizon strikes at range
in excess of 150 km (81 nautical
miles). The Otomat Mk 2 complements
the ship’s MBDA Albatros air-defence
system. (MBDA)
used on the Gowind class corvettes
designed by DCNS, which will also be
offered with a customer option of the
MM40 Exocet, RBS15 or Boeing RGM-
84 anti-ship missile.
Introduced into service in the late
1970s, Boeing has since released a Block
II version of the Harpoon, which includes
the inertial navigation system/global
positioning system suite taken from the
company’s highly successful Joint Direct
Attack Munition product line.
Barrels
Missiles can provide excellent striking
power and self-defence capabilities at
range, but corvettes also have to concern
themselves with defending the locale
around the ship while also possessing a
modus operandi for shore bombardment.
25
Naval: corvettes
This latter mission can be supported by a
range of products from Oto Melara, one
of the most famous naval gunsmiths,
which has a product catalogue including
MBDA’s Mica surface-
to-air missile system
provides robust air
defence for vessels at
sea. The missile is
expected to be
offered by DCNS as
part of the French
shipbuilder’s Gowind
class corvette
programme. (MBDA)
scores of naval guns suitable for corvette-
sized vessels. For example, the firm’s
76/62 Compact Naval Gun Mount is an
ideal weapon for such a ship and provides
a tri-role anti-aircraft, shore bombard-
ment and anti-surface gun in a single
mount using 76-mm ammunition. The
flexibility of this weapon is particularly
useful on vessels where deck space is at a
premium. Moreover, a rapid-fire version
of this weapon, in the form of the 76/62
Super Rapid Gun Mount, is available
which can dispatch ammunition at a rate
of 120 rd/min.
weapon than the Super Fast Forty, they
can choose Oto Melara’s Single-30, which
belches out 800 rd/min. In fact, the firm
produces a range of weapons in the 30-
mm category including the Single-30
MFCS (Micro Fire Control System) and
Single-30 Safs local control naval gun
mount; both of which have been con-
ceived to offer a state-of-the-art rapid-
fire weapon to replace legacy single-gun
turrets either as secondary armament on
large vessels, or as primary armament on
smaller-sized ships.
Oto Melara’s offerings are augmented
by those of BAE Systems in the form of
the company’s Mk 57 weapons, which
have been selected for a number of US
Navy vessels including the Littoral Com-
bat Ship and Zumwalt class destroyer. In
terms of corvette-sized vessels, the Mk 57
also equips the US Coast Guard's
National Security Cutters. The Mk 57
uses programmable ammunition, which,
for example, can be preset to perform an
airburst over a soft target such as a
pirate's skiff. The weapon holds up to 120
rounds ready-to-fire that can be dis-
patched at a rate of 220 per minute with a
barrel life of 5300 rounds.
A muzzle-mounted radar measures
each round’s velocity and the gun has a
maximum range of 17 km. As regards
ammunition, the gun can use 40-mm and
57-mm, six-mode programmable, pre-
fragmented, proximity-fuzed shells. The

One potent weapon

for corvettes, whether
as a new fit or
upgrade, is Nexter's
Narwhal stabilised
gun mount, which can
be supplied in 20, 25
or 30-mm guises. For
improved safety, the
Narwhal can also be
operated by remote-
control. (Nexter)

The word Exocet strikes fear into the
heart of any sailor. MBDA’s latest
version of the weapon, the Exocet
MM40 Block 3, provides a major
range increase compared to the earlier
versions. (MBDA)
Slightly smaller in calibre, but no less shell's fuze is programmed before firing
potent in terms of rates of fire, is the Sin- with data from the fire control computer.
gle Fast Forty which achieves 450 rd/min Modes include gated proximity for air
using a dual ammunition feeding system. defence, gated proximity with impact pri-
A two-barrel 40-mm weapon is also avail- ority, time-delay, impact, armour-piercing
able in the form of the Twin 40L70 Com- and proximity.
pact. Should a customer require a faster
Close-in
The latest Rheinmetall's MLG-27 27-mm mount can
incarnation of reach out to four km from a vessel and, for
Boeing’s RGM-84 customers seeking a larger calibre
Harpoon missile to weapon, Rheinmetall offers a 30-mm ver-
be developed is the sion. One of the other assets of the MLG-
Block II variant, 27 is its remote controlled capability com-
which leverages the manded via a video monitor and joystick
navigation system with day and night electro-optics allowing
that the company the weapon to be used in all conditions,
developed for the along with a laser-rangefinder and an
Joint Direct Attack auto-tracking capability to hone the gun's
Munition precision accuracy. Any target likely to be at the
bomb. (US Navy) wrong end of the gun could find itself in
trouble by its 1700 rd/min rate of fire.

26 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010

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Naval: corvettes
In terms of smaller calibre weapons,
corvettes can also be equipped with
ATK's M-242 Bushmaster cannon. This
weapon is deployed on a number of
ground vehicles, and it is also used on the
Philippine Navy's Jacinto class corvettes
and by the US Navy on its patrol boats.
The Bushmaster can hit targets out to
three km.
In the 30-mm calibre category, the
Russian-designed AK-630 uses a six-bar-
relled Gatling gun to fire incendiary and
fragmentation rounds for local area
defence against anti-ship missiles. This
ammunition has a muzzle velocity of 880
metres/sec and can fire 5000 rd/min hit-
ting targets out to five km, in the case of
surface threats, and four km for low-flying
aircraft and missiles. Fire control is pro-
vided by the MR-123-02 radar and a built-
in SP-521 electro-optical system.
Offering a smaller calibre than the
AK-630 is Raytheon's Phalanx, which
can provide highly capable point defence
to corvettes. This uses a 20-mm M61A1
gun firing armour-piercing ammunition
at a rate of between 3000 to 4500 rd/min.
The Phalanx has a dual role to protect a
corvette against both surface and air
threats, especially anti-ship missiles that
are detected via the weapon's fire control
system. The Phalanx Block 1A improves
the weapon's computer to give the
weapon sharper reactions against highly
manoeuvrable anti-ship missiles and also
feeds the flow of targeting data to other
segments of the vessel's self defence
architecture.
28
as fitted, inter alia, to the South African
BAE System’s Mk Navy frigates. The 120-kg mount includes
57 naval gun has a dual field of view CCD day sight, a
sold well around cooled or uncooled thermal imaging
the world and camera, optical auto-tracking and, as an
equips a number of option, a laser rangefinder.
corvette-sized
vessels including Beneath the Waves
the US Coast
Guard’s National Guns and missiles give a corvette the
Security Cutters. striking power against air and surface
The Mk 57 has a threats, but for dangers lurking beneath
devastating rate of the waves, lightweight torpedoes are
fire of up to 220 required. For example, the Royal
rd/min. (BAE Malaysian Navy's Laksamana class
Systems) corvettes are equipped with Whitehead
Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (Wass) A244/S
weapons. These are available in Mod 1
Meanwhile, the Block 1B improve- and Mod 2 configurations and can strike
ments include a forward-looking infrared at a range of over 13 km when operating
sensor operating in the eight-to-twelve at low speed, and at ten km at high speed,
micron waveband to the Phalanx’s Ku- while using both narrow and broadband
band search, and a digital moving target acoustic modes. In addition they can be
indicator and mono pulse tracking radar. used in both active and passive modes,
It is this modification that allows the offering a maximum and minimum speed
Phalanx to be used against surface of 38 and 28 kt respectively.
threats and low-flying threats such as hel- For corvettes hunting targets in littoral
icopters. The Phalanx Block 1B has an regions, the A244/S design is ideal, as it
Raytheon’s famous
Phalanx Close-in
Weapons System
can be used to
equip corvettes. It is
available in the
Block 1B configur-
ation, which adds
a forward-looking
infrared sensor and
an improved gun
barrel to the earlier
Block 1A design.
(US Navy)
improved gun barrel that is 45-cm longer can operate in shallow waters of around
than the previous version. Moreover, the 40 metres. Wass is one of the members of
Phalanx's fire control system can be used the Eurotorp consortium which includes
to hand-off targeting data to other DCNS and Thales Underwater Systems.
onboard weapons such as the Rolling In terms of lightweight weapons, Euro-
Airframe Missile. torp provides the MU90 lightweight tor-
In South Africa, Reutech has devel- pedo. Bettering the A244/S littoral per-
oped the Sea Rogue, which currently formance, the MU90 can attack targets in
accommodates a 12.7-mm machine gun, 25 metres of water with an engagement
range of over 15,000 metres, using
advanced pump jet technology to reduce
Offered as either a the weapon’s acoustic signature while the
27 or 30-mm design, destructive power is achieved through an
Rheinmetall’s MLG-27 insensitive shaped-charge warhead.
is fired by remote
control and is easily Jacks of all Trades
controlled using a
video monitor and a The modern corvette’s ability to perform
joystick. It provides the anti-submarine mission, in addition to
devastating firepower shore bombardment, surface target pros-
for corvette-sized ecution and air defence, underlines the
vessels. (Rheinmetall) sheer flexibility of these small ships. The
realities of modern warfare make these
vessels indispensable, while the sheer
range of armament available for the
corvette is once again making these com-
batants a popular choice for navies
around the world. a
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
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 South Africa’s Defence
Market report

Industry:
The 19-tonne
(bare) RG-41 is
the latest member
of the BAE OMC
vehicle stable

Turning the Corner?

Twenty-one years ago the previous South African government initiated defence (especially from the United States) and
cuts that saw funding cut by half in a decade. Those cuts and the steadily shrink- long-range mortar ammunition, and is
pushing developments in those fields, and
ing budget that occurred since almost killed the defence industry. Still vulnera- Turbomeca Africa has established itself
ble, it may now have turned the corner. It has increased exports several years as a regional support centre.
running (one billion dollars in 2008), has useful alliances, and is receiving quite The divisions under direct Denel con-
trol are also gradually improving their
substantial orders from the South African forces.
position, despite very limited spending by
the defence force.
Helmoed Römer Heitman defence packages’ completed, and at real Denel Dynamics is well-advanced
risk of losing A400M work after South with the 5th-generation A-Darter air-to-
Africa exited the project. The others are air missile, which has been cleared on and

M
ost impressively, the industry has
expanded beyond its specialities
to supply ‘high tech’ items to
major armed forces. Among them are
surface-to-air and anti-tank missiles,
drones, helmet sight systems, attack
periscopes, stabilised sensor turrets, ESM
and ECM systems, armoured vehicle self-
protection systems, radars, army com-
mand and control systems and naval
combat management systems.
Denel is the biggest single actor, but is
plagued by the government’s inability to
decide its future. Thus it has not received
the full amount requested for recapitalisa-
tion, and the proposed transfer of 50% of
missile house Denel Dynamics is held up
by differences between Defence and Pub-
lic Enterprises regarding control of that
division. The group has meanwhile restruc-
tured and has transferred control of sever-
al divisions to foreign partners, forming
Carl Zeiss Optronics (30% Denel), Rhein-
metall Denel Munitions (49% Denel), Tur-
bomeca Africa (49% Denel) and Denel
Saab Aerostructures (80% Denel).
The latter is in difficulties, with most of
the work generated by the 1999 ‘strategic
doing well. Carl Zeiss Optronics is
exporting attack periscopes, stabilised
sensor turrets and hand-held laser
rangefinders, and has developed an inte-
grated reconnaissance system for light
aircraft. Denel Rheinmetall Munitions
has good orders for long-range artillery
integrated with the Gripen (to 12 G and
45,000 ft), with the first live firing from a
Gripen set for early 2011. The Umkhonto
surface-to-air missile has proved success-
ful in the South African Navy, while the
Mk 2 is in production for Finnish Navy
and has been selected by Sweden. It
This still frame from a
high-speed camera
shows the launch of an
Umkhonto-IR air defence
missile. Amongst test
launches, including
several 'kinetic kills' by
telemetry rounds, one
was performed under
guidance of only the
frigate's Thales MRR
rather than a tracker, and
proved successful in its
surface-attack mode.
(Denel)

30 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010

 Market report
The 30-km-range 105-mm gun is being
developed for the army, but also has
drawn US Army interest. It will be
demonstrated in the United Sates later
this year, probably in the self-propelled
mortar version of the Stryker developed
with General Dynamics. Lighter weapons
like the 40-mm AGL, long-range mortars,
NTW anti-materiel rifle and the SS-77
light machine gun continue to sell.
PMP is well on its way to renewed prof-
itability, with good export orders for small-
arms ammunition and a valuable multi-
The Seeker 400 is being developed by Denel Dynamics for «a number» of year order for ammunition components for
inter–national customers. The earlier Seeker II has been exported and is used the United Kingdom. Mechem continues
operationally by those clients. The Seeker 400 will offer a dual payload capability, to be successful in the de-mining and haz-
extended time on station and greatly reduced maintenance requirements. (Denel) ardous materials field, while the Overberg
Test Range is increasingly being used by
offers «enhanced ECCM functionality» before year-end. Denel also has a letter of foreign companies and armed forces.
and «expanded operational capabilities intent from Malaysia to provide a similar BAE Land Systems OMC continues
against aerial targets in high-clutter naval turret for its new vehicle and to handle to do well with its mine-protected vehi-
and land environments and against sur- the overall system integration. cles (RG-31, RG-32M, RG-33). With no
face targets». Longer-range and radar-
guided variants are planned.
The 10,000-metre range Mokopa
laser-homing missile is ready for integra-
tion but lacks a launch customer. The
laser beam-riding Ingwe is in production
for export and will arm the SA Army’s
future tank destroyer. The TV-guided
Raptor II boosted standoff bomb is also
being exported and has been cleared on
the Su-24 among others, and is being
upgraded with digital electronics.
The Seeker drone and the Skua high-
speed aerial target continue in service
with several clients, while the larger Seek-
er 400 is in final development for «a num-
ber of» foreign clients. It offers a dual
sensor payload, more time on station and
reduced maintenance. The Bateleur male
drone awaits a development partner.
Denel Land Systems is prime contrac-
tor for the SA Army Badger infantry
combat vehicle, with the basic variant to BAE OMC has acquired the rights to the Iguana – now called the RG-34 – from
begin qualification in September. Engi- Sabiem, for whom it was originally designed in South Africa by Automotive and
neering development models of the 30- Industrial Design. The intention is to develop it further as an air-transportable armoured
mm Camgun and 60-mm breech-loading vehicle for peace support and similar operations. This vehicle has been provisionally
long-range mortar are in the qualification fitted with the turret of an Eland-90 armoured car for illustrative purposes. The range
stage, and turret qualification will begin will include various 4 x 4 vehicles as well as a longer 6 x 6 variant. (BAE OMC)

illusions that the Mrap boom will last for-

ever, OMC has taken first steps to devel-
oping a range of more tactical vehicles: it
has bought the Iguana from Sabiem and
will develop it further as the RG-34, and
has developed two new vehicles, the 6 x 6
RG-35 APC that combines Mrap protec-
tion with real tactical mobility, and the
8 x 8 RG-41. Featured in our lead photo,
this 19-tonner has a payload capacity of
eleven tonnes, which could bring its com-
bat weight close to the 30-tonne thresh-
old depending on the selected protection
level. OMC’s Dynamics business unit has
developed overhead weapon stations for
weapons up to 25 mm calibre. The firm
will also manufacture most of the 264
Badgers for the South African Army.
The RG-35 marks the first step by BAE OMC in the development of a new range of Advanced Technologies and Engi-
vehicles that incorporate Mrap levels of protection with real tactical mobility. It is intended neering is the main industrial facility of
as an armoured personnel carrier for a wide range of applications, and can mount an the French-based ATE group. Its focus is
overhead weapon station next to the powerpack, just aft of the commander, who sits next on Eurocopter, for whom it is developing
to the driver. The interior offers exceptional space and allows the commander to make a stand-alone weapons system (Saws) for
eye contact with every one of the soldiers in the vehicle. (BAE OMC) light and medium helicopters. It is cur-

armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010 31

Market report
The ATE Saws weapon system is initially being integrated with the EC-635 for a
Eurocopter client and with the Fennec for demonstration purposes. It provides for a
sensor turret, guided and unguided rockets and the Denel Dynamics 5000-metre laser
beam-riding Ingwe and 10,000-metre range semi-active laser guided Mokopa missiles
among other weapons. (ATE)
rently integrating this system on an EC-
635 for a specific customer, and on an AS-
550 that will serve as demonstrator. The
EC-635 fit includes Denel’s Ingwe mis-
sile. ATE is also supporting the Mi-25s it
upgraded for Algeria and has bid for an
Mi-8/17 upgrade package in that country.
Part of that bid is a composite rotor blade
developed by ATE.
Looking forward, ATE is developing a
fully digital avionics suite for these aircraft
and has an agreement with BAE Systems
to partner on Hawk upgrades, drawing on
its experience of developing the naviga-
tion and weapons system for the Hawk
Mk 120 for the SA Air Force. Its Vulture
artillery target acquisition and fire direc-
tion drone is in service with the army and
has been sold to China for local manufac-
ture. The small, hand-launched Kiwit has
also found an export client.
The Reutech RSR 210N was developed as a lightweight +50-km-range X-Band 2-D
multi-role radar for small surface combatants, and has been selected by the Royal
Norwegian Navy as the helicopter control radar for its Fridtjof Nansen class frigates.
(Reutech)
32
Reutech Defence is doing well with its
ACR500 airborne multi-mode radio,
which is in all SAAF combat aircraft, and
which has been purchased by several
other air forces. RDI is developing the
new and lighter, fully digital ACR3 to
complement it, and is also developing a
new family of software-controlled UHF
radios for the SA National Defence
Force’s Project Radiate.
Fuchs Electronics continues to export
a range of electronic fuzes, among them a
new multi-option fuze (high and low
proximity, point detonation, electronic
delay) for 60, 81 and 120-mm bombs. It
has been successfully demonstrated and
is being qualified for export, also to Nato
armies. Fuchs also manufactures pre-
fragmented bombs, and has developed a
’reduced effect‘ Mk 82 for asymmetric
Electronics
In the Reutech group, Reutech Radar
Systems produced the most notable suc-
cesses in the past few years with the sale
of its RSR 210N radar to the Royal Nor-
wegian Navy and from the radar compo-
nent of the vehicle self-protection system
developed with Saab and Denel. Devel-
opment of the RSR 900 Stealthrad con-
tinues, focused on small target detection
in heavy seas and littoral clutter.
Reutech Solutions’ Sea Rogue
weapon mounting is being procured by
the Navy (two 12.7-mm mounts per
frigate, two 20-mm mounts to follow) and
the UAE Coast Guard, and has drawn
interest in Malaysia in both naval and
vehicle variants. The latter is included in
a letter of intent signed for Malaysia’s
new-generation ICV and APC family. Reutech Solutions is supplying eight
12.7-mm Sea Rogue mountings to the
South African Navy for its four frigates.
Each frigate will later receive an
additional two mountings armed with
a 20-mm cannon, and the mounting is
likely to find its way onto other ships. It
has also been purchased by the UAE
Coastguard and may be selected by
Malaysia in its naval and vehicle
versions. (Reutech)
operations. It is identical to the standard
bomb, differing only in the explosive fill-
ing, so no clearance process is required.
The first client may be Denmark, which
uses the standard pre-fragmented bombs
with Paveway kits on its F-16s.
Saab Systems Grintek is focused on
C3 systems. A major success was winning
the first portion of Project Legend, to
supply the South African Army with a
‘brigade-and-below’ C2 system, which
will grow into a wider system over time.
An additional static system has been
ordered for the SANDF Joint Operations
Division and another contract was won to
provide elements of the system for the
national and provincial joint operations
centres for the World Cup. A senior com-
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
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Market report
Reutech initially developed the RSR 900 Stealthrad as an easily deployable radar for
border and coastline surveillance. It is a low-probability-of-intercept frequency modu-
lated continuous wave radar that offers 360°or sector coverage with a range of 40
km. It is able to distinguish slow-moving targets on land and in sea clutter, and is being
developed in several versions, including a stabilised naval version. (Reutech)
pany official says the system will come in
at «about a quarter» the cost of an
imported system. Given that affordabili-
ty, Saab believes there is good export
potential.
Other major projects have been the
development of a ground link that enables
the SA Air Force to integrate the radar
picture of its Gripens into its air picture
and command system, and the develop-
ment of the HF radios and related ele-
ments for the SANDF’s new tactical com-
munications system (Project Radiate).
The company is also exporting its TR2400
and TR2000 radios successfully.
Electronic Defence Systems (former
Avitronics) has also been successful, par-
ticularly with submarine comint/elint/
ESM/LWS systems and its attack
periscope RWR antenna, both purchased
for Greek, Portuguese and South Korean
submarines. It has also supplied the Ger-
man Navy with a littoral elint/RWR/LWS
system for its mine warfare vessels and
UAE with an ESM system for the Bay-
nunah class corvettes. On the airborne
34
side the company has developed a new
fully-integrated defensive aids system for
fighters, transport aircraft and helicop-
ters; a compact ESM/ECM system for the
Su-30; a self-protection suite for the Indi-
an Dhruv light helicopter and a self-pro-
tection system for commercial aircraft
that is in use in Iraq.
The Land Electronic Defence System
(Leds) developed with Denel and
Reutech has been sold to the Nether-
lands in its basic Leds-50 form for the
CV90. The more comprehensive Leds-
150 is currently being evaluated by sever-
al potential clients, and the anti-sabot
dart Leds-300 is in its final development
phase.
Also in the group is Ewation, which is
jointly owned with EADS and focuses on
comint systems.
Thales Defence Systems is supplying
the AS4000 artillery target engagement
system to the SA Army and to other
clients in Africa, in the Middle East, Asia
and southeast Asia. The company has
also developed a mobile mortar system
Carl Zeiss Optronics has
developed a
reconnaissance system
for utility aircraft and
have installed it on a P-
750 for demonstration
purposes. The composite
pod houses a retractable
optronics turret, a
retractable searchlight, a
retractable microwave
downlink antenna, the
power supply for the
system and an additional
fuel tank. One or two
operator’s consoles are
fitted in the cabin. (Carl
Zeiss Optronics)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
(60 and 81 mm) that has drawn SA Army
interest and is being marketed for export.
Another SA Army project is a new tacti-
cal intelligence system (Tacis), which is
also being marketed for export.
In the naval domain TDS has devel-
oped a compact combat management
system and has a six-ship fast patrol ves-
sel contract for this Mikros system in
Asia, as well as another CMS contract,
also in Asia. TDS is also supplying the
consoles originally developed for the SA
Navy’s frigates, for the French Navy’s
new Fremm frigates.
There are also several smaller defence
equipment companies. Among them and
their areas of competence are EDH
(muzzle velocity radars), Fulcrum (C2
systems, Milan firing post upgrades),
Ivema (Gila mine-protected APC, light
turrets and mountings), LMT (flat bot-
tom mine protection, combat vehicle
interiors, mine-protected truck cabs and
personnel carrier pods), Moh-9 (ceramic
armour), Rippel Effect (40-mm standard
and extended-range grenade launchers),
RSD (mine-detection vehicles), Sysdel
(elint); Tellumat (IFF, UAV datalinks)
and Thoroughtec (combat vehicle and
tactical simulators, truck driver training
simulators, Hawk cockpit simulator).
The ballistic and mine protected cab
developed by Land Mobility
Technologies for the Daimler Actros
truck family has been bought by the
Canadian Army and is being
evaluated by the German Army. The
company has also developed similar
cabs for other trucks, a mine-protection
kit for the Humvee and a ballistic and
mine-protected personnel carrier pod
that can be carried by any ten-tonne
truck. (LMT)
Apart from defence companies as
such, a number of other companies are
also active in the defence field. Among
them are Aerosud (Mirage 1 upgrade,
helicopter intake filters and IR suppres-
sion, armoured seats), Ansys (missile
rails for attack helicopters, low-cost
armoured vehicle day/night sights) and
Truvelo Armoury (sniping rifles, assault
shotguns, 40-mm barrels). Finally there
are companies involved in developing
and manufacturing uniforms, field equip-
ment, rations packs and related items. a
Aircraft: combat
A French Navy Dassault Rafale-M
armed with MBDA Mica missiles, taking
off from the Charles de Gaulle
Combat Aircraft
Fighting for… Sales!
This year Russia has begun – and China allegedly will begin – flight trials of fifth-
generation fighters, joining America in the elite world of stealth, supercruise,
thrust-vectoring and aesa radars.
Roy Braybrook
T
he United States remains the global
pace-setter in fighter development,
the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor
having entered US Air Force service at the
end of 2005. The F-22A has a maximum
weight of 36.6 tonnes and combines all-
aspect stealth with Mach 1.78 supercruise,
thrust-vectoring and the fusion of data
from off-board and on-board sensors, the
latter including the Northrop Grum-
man/Raytheon APG-77 aesa radar.
The US Air Force originally calculated
a need for 740 F-22s, but production has
been capped at 187. The last 24 were
ordered in FY09 for $ 4343.5 million, indi-
cating a unit cost of $ 180 million. The final
delivery will take place in early 2012.
It has been estimated that restarting
production with a five-year batch of 75
F-22s would give a unit production cost of
$ 227 million. An F-22 successor is planned
for the 2025 to 2030 time frame.
Eagle
The US Air Force currently has around
400 air superiority Boeing F-15Cs, of
which it is planned that 176 will be
upgraded to ‘Golden Eagles’ with modi-
fications including the Raytheon APG-
63(V)3 aesa radar (see radar article in
Armada 3/2010 page 32).
The 36.7-tonne Mach 2.5 F-15E Strike
Eagle remains one of the most effective
strike fighters available. The US Air Force
has 217 F-15Es, which are to be retrofitted
36
with Raytheon APG-82 aesa radars. The
service plans to keep around 200 F-15Es
until at least 2035. Saudi Arabia has 70
(designated F-15S) and Israel 25 (F-15I).
South Korea is receiving 61 (F-15K) and
Singapore 24 (F-15SG). The latter is con-
sidering a follow-on purchase.
In March 2009 Boeing unveiled its
F-15SE Silent Eagle project, with radar-
absorbent coatings, ‘vertical’ tails
inclined outboard, digital fly-by-wire
controls and conformal fuel tanks (CFT)
redesigned to provide internal weapon
bays. The bays can accommodate two
Aim-120s and two 450-kg Jdams, or eight
SDBs, and would be replaced by standard
CFTs once the need for stealth had
passed. Equipment for the F-15SE will
include the APG-63(V)3 radar.
The F-15SE’s canted fins have now
been deferred, considerably simplifying
development. First flight was scheduled
The third F-35A prototype (the seventh F-35) had its maiden flight on 20 April 2010.
The F-35A is the only version to mount the four-barrel, 25-mm General Dynamics Gau-
22/A cannon internally. (Lockheed Martin)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
for late July 2010. One immediate objec-
tive is to fire an Aim-120 from a modified
CFT. The F-15SE is aimed at existing
F-15 operators such as Japan, Singapore
and South Korea. Target unit price is
$ 100 million.
Fighting Falcon
Over 4300 Lockheed Martin F-16s have so
far been manufactured for 24 countries, but
deliveries dropped to 28 in 2008 and 14 in
2009. The challenge is to keep the F-16 line
open, without damaging F-35 sales.
The US Air Force plans to compensate
for F-35 delays by extending the life of its
F-16s (and F-15s) through low-cost mod-
ifications. It does not intend to buy ‘Gen-
eration Four-Plus’ new developments of
in-service fighters. Those who would like
to see the big wing of the Mitsubishi F-2
on a reduced-signature, thrust-vectoring
F-16 are out of luck. Continuation of F-16
production will depend on further
exports of Block 50/52/60/62s.
In 2006 Pakistan signed for 18 Block
52s under the Peace Drive programme,
with an option on 18. In 2007 Turkey

signed for 30 Block 50s (to be built by
Tusas) under Peace Onyx IV. In 2008
Morocco became the 25th nation to order
the F-16, with a contract for 24 Block 52s.
In late 2009 Egypt ordered 20 more
Block 52s, under Peace Vector VII. In
early 2010 Romania chose the F-16, but is
buying 24 ex-US Air Force Block 25s.
Iraq has stated a need for 18 F-16s in
the near term, building to 96 by 2020.
Lockheed Martin would like to win
India’s 126-aircraft order with its pro-
posed F-16IN Super Viper, based on the
United Arab Emirates’ F-16E/F Block
60, with conformal tanks and a Northrop
Grumman APG-80 aesa radar.
Super Hornet
The 30.2-tonne Mach 1.6, reduced-signa-
ture Boeing F/A-18E/F is a multi-role
combat aircraft with (in Block II form) a
Northrop Grumman APG-79 aesa radar.
The US Navy, having already received
over 400, has just reached an agreement
with Boeing covering a third multi-year
programme. This covers 66 F/A-18E/Fs
and 58 EA-19G Growler electronic attack
aircraft, providing the planned total of 515
Super Hornets and 114 EA-18Gs. The
Navy, faced with a fighter/attack shortfall
as older Hornets are retired, also plans to
increase the new generation’s service life
from 6000 to 9000 hours.
However, the Super Hornet achieves
its outstanding radius at the expense of
specific excess power. Only in 2007 did it
finally break into the export market,
The projected Saab Sea Gripen would have a strengthened undercarriage, an arrester
hook and nosewheel tow provisions. It is aimed at an Indian Navy requirement for a
Sea Harrier replacement. (Saab)
For the Indian Air
Force fighter contest,
Lockheed Martin has
proposed the F-16IN,
based on the UAE’s F-
16E/F Block 60, with
a General Electric
F110-GE-132 engine
and conformal fuel
tanks. (Lockheed
Martin)
when Australia signed for 24 F/A-18Fs.
These will serve as an interim replace-
ment for the General Dynamics F-111,
pending the F-35. Half are to be wired for
possible conversion to EA-18Gs.
Lightning II
The 26-tonne, stealthy Lockheed Martin
F-35 began life with a US Air
Force/Navy/Marine Corps requirement
for 2852 units, but eight allies hyped up to
buy 600 more, even before Israel and Sin-
gapore joined in. Recently, most F-35
news has been of delays and escalating
costs, encouraging customers to adopt a
wait-and-see attitude.
Reports suggest Britain will split its
order for 138 into two widely spaced
tranches. Italy, planning to buy 131
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Aircraft: combat
(including at least 22 F-35Bs), has put on
hold plans for a final assembly and check-
out facility at Cameri AB.
Australia is to buy 75 to replace the
F-111 and 25 to replace the F/A-18F. An
initial batch of 14 has now been autho-
rised, with first delivery in 2014, but Aus-
tralia will not decide on a second batch
until 2012 – and on the final batch until
late in the decade.
The Netherlands, scheduled to buy 85
F-35s, has ordered one IOT&E (initial
operational test & evaluation) aircraft,
but has delayed buying the second
planned. A change of government and
the withdrawal of Dutch forces from
Afghanistan may lead to a requirements
rethink. Norway, due to buy 48, will not
sign until 2014.
Israel, after years of negotiation, was
to sign for 25 F-35As in March 2010, but
has delayed until 2011. Denmark has
recently delayed from 2010 to 2012 its
The edges of the
Lockheed Martin
F-22A Raptor’s wing,
tail, engine nozzles
and access panels are
aligned to produce
small, non-exploitable
peaks in radar
response. (US Air
Force)
choice between the F-35, F/A-18E/F and
the Saab Gripen.
However, as long as an export F-35
promises to be significantly stealthier than
reduced-signature derivatives of in-service
fighters, it will remain (for many players)
the only game in town, despite its cost.
Development cost for the F-35 is esti-
mated in General Accountability Office
report GAO-10-382 to have risen from $
19 to 49.3 billion, and manufacture (for a
domestic production total reduced to
2443 units) has grown to $ 273.3 billion,
giving a programme total of $ 322.6 bil-
lion and an acquisition unit cost (includ-
ing 14 development aircraft) of $ 131 mil-
lion in then-year dollars.
These GAO figures are broadly con-
firmed by the Pentagon’s latest ‘Selected
Acquisition Reports’. The latter gives an
F-35 programme cost of $ 328.3 billion in
base year 2010 values and a correspon-
ding unit cost of $ 133.6 million.
Although F-35 development is due to
be completed only in April 2016 (indicat-
ing a four-year slip), the US Marine
Corps still plans to declare initial opera-
tional capability with 29 F-35Bs in
December 2012. The first operational
unit, VMA-332, will probably be based at
Yuma, Arizona, supported by the Vmat-
501 training unit now being formed at
Eglin AFB, Florida.
37
Aircraft: combat
MiG-29KUB development aircraft No 941 on the deck of the Russian carrier Admiral
Kuznetsov. The Indian Navy’s repeat order for the MiG-29K is expected to lead to a
Russian Navy order. (RAC-MiG)
The US Air Force and Navy are aim-
ing for an initial operational capability
with the F-35A and F-35C in 2015 and
2014 respectively. All F-35 models have
the Northrop Grumman APG-81 aesa
radar.
Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon was launched
as a three-tranche, 620-aircraft pro-
gramme to supply the needs of Britain,
Germany, Italy and Spain. Tranche I of
148 aircraft has been completed, and
Tranche II of 254 is in production. In July
2009 an order for a further 112 as Tranche
IIIA left the final 124 Typhoons of
Tranche IIIB for later consideration.
An aesa development of the Euro-
radar Captor is to be introduced in the
course of Tranche IIIA. Eurofighter
hopes to obtain funding for thrust-vec-
toring of the Eurojet EJ200 nozzles,
which may require support from an
export customer.
Austria has purchased nine new-build
Tranche I Typhoons and six refurnished
ex-German Air Force aircraft. In 2009
Saudi Arabia ordered 72 Typhoons via the
British government. Early delivery has
been achieved by diverting 24 Tranche II
aircraft that were being built for the Royal
The Phazotron Zhuk-AE of the MiG-35
is one example of the aesa radars that
provide the latest fighters with major
improvements in detection range,
reliability and multi-functionality. (RAC-
MiG)
38
Air Force. The remaining 48 are to be
assembled in Saudi Arabia, which is
expected to order another large batch.
Oman, seeking twelve aircraft with
early delivery as Jaguar replacements,
may purchase Typhoons. These could be
taken from the RAF’s Tranche II, in turn
replaced under a (otherwise unlikely)
British order for Tranche IIIB.
The Eurofighter Typhoon has been exported to Austria and Saudi Arabia. An Austrian
Air Force Typhoon is pictured with Diehl BGT Defence Iris-T short-range air-to-air
missiles. (Eurofighter)
Rafale
France has funded development of the
24.7-tonne Dassault Rafale on a national
basis. The 2010 annual report of the Cour
des Comptes (France’s national audit
office) estimated the cost of the pro-
gramme, including the production of 286
aircraft, as € 40.69 billion, giving a unit
acquisition cost of € 142.3 million. The
plan is to acquire 228 Rafales for the Air
Force and 58 for the Navy.
At the end of 2009 a French multi-year
order for 60 Rafales brought the funded
domestic total to 180. Deliveries of these
F3-standard aircraft will begin in 2015 and
run at an average of 10.5 per year. Aircraft
delivered from 2012 onwards, sometimes
referred to as F3+ standard, will have the
Thales RBE2 aesa radar. It is hoped to find
funding for a substantial thrust increase for
the Rafale’s Snecma M88 engines.
Gripen
The 14-tonne Saab JAS39 Gripen is the
West’s only lightweight fighter of recent
design. The Swedish Air Force has
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
received a total of 204 JAS39s (105
JAS39As, 15 Bs, 70 Cs and 14 Ds), but
plans to reduce its fleet to 100 enhanced
JAS39C/Ds.
In 2005 the Czech Republic began a
ten-year lease of 14 Gripens. In 2006
Hungary commenced operations with 14
Gripens under a lease-buy arrangement.
South Africa has reduced its order from 28
to 26 in order to afford aircraft of higher
standard. It has now received all nine
Gripen-Ds and has begun accepting the 17
single-seat Gripen-Cs. The Royal Thai Air
Force has ordered six, and in January 2010
requested approval to buy six more.
The Gripen NG demonstrator is a
modified JAS39B, acting as a testbed for
future upgrades for the Swedish Air Force
and a basis for export proposals. The more
powerful General Electric F414G, basi-
cally as in the F/A-18E/F, provides a Mach
1.2 supercruise. The Gripen NG will have
the Selex Galileo ES-05 Raven-1000P
aesa radar and Skyward-G IRST system.
It will have 38% more internal fuel and
eventually a larger wing.
Saab has recently launched the 16.5-
tonne Sea Gripen project, aimed at an
Indian Navy requirement for up to 40 air-
craft to replace its BAE Systems Sea Har-
rier. Like the Sea Harrier, its span is small
enough to avoid a wing-fold. The require-
ment is written around a navalised 13.5-
tonne Hal Tejas, which (if available)
would clearly have precedence.
Brazil is expected imminently to select
a fighter for its 36-aircraft F-X2 pro-
gramme and India plans to order 126
multi-role combat aircraft in 2012. The
Gripen NG stands a good chance in both
contests, has excellent long-term prospects
in Switzerland and may well be adopted as
a low-cost substitute for the F-35 in sever-
al European countries. Sweden has offered
to Romania 24 new-build Gripens for a
cut-price of one billion Euros, to equal
America’s offer for 24 pre-used F-16s.
RAC-MiG
Despite reports of orders for hundreds of
MiG-29s to be brought to MiG-29SMT
standard, and support revenues from
around 1600 MiG-29s in 25 countries,
RAC-MiG has been going through diffi-
cult times.

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Aircraft: combat
Taken during the first flight of the Sukhoi T-50/Pak-FA on 29 January 2010, this
photograph illustrates its wide undercarriage track, relatively shallow intakes and
canted fins. (Sukhoi)
The 31 MiG-29SMTs that the Russian
Air Force received in 2009 were Algerian
rejects, modified to domestic standards.
The 32 MiG-29SMTs ordered by Yemen
have all been delivered, and the expected
Libyan order has so far not materialised.
Stories of Syria buying large numbers of
MiG-29s, partly on behalf of Iran, have
yet to be substantiated.
However, the Indian Navy has
ordered 29 more MiG-29K/KUBs to fol-
low the first batch of 16. This has report-
edly sparked an order for at least 24 for
the Russian Navy.
The MiG-29 began life with a maxi-
mum weight of 18 tonnes and grew into
the 20.3-tonne MiG-29SMT and the 24.5-
tonne navalised MiG-29K. The MiG-35
proposed for the Indian Air Force has a
maximum weight of 29.7 tonnes and a
Phazotron Zhuk-AE aesa radar. Thrust
vectoring is optional.
RAC-MiG continues to offer the 46.2-
tonne, Mach 2.82 MiG-31E, the world’s
fastest fighter. The latest sale appears to
cover five for Syria.
Sukhoi
Following its highly successful Su-27/30
series, which has in recent years been
acquired in large numbers by China (104
plus at least 200 license-built), India (50
plus 140) and in smaller numbers by Alge-
ria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Venezuela and
Vietnam, Sukhoi hopes to bridge the gap to
40
the fifth generation with the 38.8-tonne,
‘4++’ generation Su-35, which made its
début at Russia’s Maks 2007 show.
The Su-35 introduces a 6000-hr fatigue
life, reduced radar signature and new Sat-
urn 117S engines. It will have provisions
for thrust-vectoring nozzles, a new
Tikhomirov Irbis-E radar, new missiles
and a strengthened undercarriage. The
Sukhoi plans to bridge the gap between the Su-27/30 generation and the Pak-FA with
the Su-35, combining a reduced-signature, long-life airframe with new engines, radar
and missiles. (Sukhoi)
dorsal airbrake has been deleted in
favour of ’active‘ rudders.
Small-scale deliveries of the Su-34
maritime strike fighter (with side-by-side
seating) have begun to the Russian Air
Force, to replace the Su-24. In 2009 the
service received two Su-34s (and eight
upgraded Su-27SMs), but reports of 57
Su-34s by 2015 appear optimistic.
The US Navy’s plan
for an F/A-18E/F
replacement,
formerly the FA-XX,
is now the Next
Generation Air
Dominance
(NGAD) fighter.
This is one such
Boeing Phantom
Works project.
(Boeing)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Largely funded by Sukhoi, the proto-
type of the fifth-generation T-50 or Pak-
FA first flew on 29 January 2010, almost 20
years after the YF-22 and Northrop YF-23.
India will share in further development,
paying 25% of the costs. India and Russia
will form a joint venture for production of
the FGFA (Fifth-Generation Fighter Air-
craft), building at least 200 for either side
and an estimated 600 for export. Deliver-
ies will begin around 2017.
In Russian service the Pak-FA is
reportedly to replace not only the Su-27
but also the MiG-29. However, there is a
case for a lightweight dedicated air superi-
ority fighter that can fly rings around the
F-35. It may be recalled that India declined
the alternative MiG LMFS (Lightweight
Multirole Tactical Fighter).
Far East
In November 2009 the first Chengdu JF-
17/FC-1 to be assembled by the Pakistan
Aeronautical Complex (Pac) was rolled
out at Kamra. This, the first of 42 under
contract, followed eight delivered from
China. Pac is expected to build a further
50, but probably with French avionics and
weapons integrated by ATE (Advanced
Technologies & Engineering).
As a replacement for the Plaaf (Peo-
ple’s Liberation Army Air Force) J-7
(MiG-21) and as a lightweight comple-
ment for the J-11 (Su-27), Chengdu is
producing the 19.2-tonne IAI Lavi-
inspired J-10, which entered service in
2006. Salyut is supplying at least 100 AL-
31FN engines (some reports say 300 to
400), but China is developing a substitute,
the Liming WS10A Taihang. Pakistan has
ordered 36 J-10B/FC-20s under a $ 1.4
billion contract, and hopes to reach a
total of 150.
China’s fifth-generation fighter has
been dubbed J-XX by the US Office of
Naval Intelligence. The Shenyang J-12 and
Chengdu J-13 projects are competing, but
artist’s impressions of a J-14 have also
been published. One prototype is to fly
soon, but US Defense Secretary Gates has
predicted that China will have only a hand-
ful of fifth-generation fighters by 2025.
Japan, having failed to acquire Ameri-
ca’s F-22, is considering development of
its own fifth-generation fighter, the ATD-
X Shinshin, with IHI XF5-1 engines. a
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Soldier systems
The Soldier as Nucleus
The surfeit of electronic gear carried by today’s warfighter has given birth to the
wearable electronics concept. Restricted to having only two hands to hold his
kit, and confined to the limited space on his belt and vest web gear, the obvious
expansion is to go up and down his arms, wrap around his head and neck and
sew the electronics into his clothing.
Johnny Keggler
T
he tactical radio has undergone a
metamorphosis over the last 40
years, from being a relative behe-
moth carried and operated by one soldier
to a tiny squad radio – one on every
soldier’s shoulder.
In comparison, the late-1960s 6.2-kg
AN/PRC-77 large manpacked radio with
ungainly whip antenna manufactured by
Associated Industries provided voice
communication to US soldiers operating
in Vietnam, transmitting across the 30 to
75.95 MHz frequency range – today’s
395-gram Raytheon Microlight DH500
offers mobile, ad hoc self-forming, self-
healing networking ELPRS data, voice
and video communication with embed-
ded 256-bit AES encryption and is soft-
ware-upgradable to other waveforms.
Moving on foot and talking to friend-
lies has, over the years, become easier,
quicker, more secure and less of a physi-
cal burden.
Now we take that small, light radio
and add some extra batteries, as power is
an important consideration, especially on
long-range patrols. A cable or two would
not be the worst option – one to the PDA,
another to a headset. Our representative
radio provides video and data; therefore
another cable to connect a rugged laptop
is required (DRS Armor X10, Panasonic
Toughbook, GD Itronix Gobook MR-1 –
the selection is there).
42
Data devices, such as this wearable
PDA from Codan, are standard on
today’s battlefield
for communication, power and situation-
al awareness seemed more valuable, both
to defence budgets and to the soldier.
The Academics
One researcher at Stanford University
has discovered that if an ordinary piece
With the overabundance of C4I infor-
mation available to today’s warfighter,
of paper is dipped into ink infused with
carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires,
we find that the accessories required to the paper turns into a battery, or a super-
process the information received over a capacitor. What is more interesting is
300-gram radio has recreated the bur-
densome gargantua.
Think Small First
On the heels of this realisation began a
race to find wearable computing and
power sources that could replace some of
the hardware carried by the soldier. In
the early 1990s the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (Darpa)
penned a requirement for wearable
systems that could plug into a Mil-STD
1553 bus to run diagnostics for tanks and
vehicles.
This resulted in body-mounted com-
puters that featured voice activation,
although in effect the concept proved a
bit awkward for the user. Standing by
oneself in a repair shop somewhat idly
talking to a computer was not yet ready
for prime time.
What did happen though, is that these
systems piqued the interest of army and
air force front-liners, which, in turn, led to
the US Navy Special Operations Com-
mand to take a much closer look at what Although it does illustrate the ease at
these systems could offer. which some computers can be carried
As a consequence ‘systems’ became by soldiers, the General Dynamics
the codeword for further development. Itronix Gobook MR-1 – light, small and
Instead of a computer that could perform powerful – is still not considered a
one or two tasks, the idea of having the ‘wearable’ solution. (General
soldier wearing interconnected systems Dynamics Itronix)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010

that even if the paper is crumpled or mis-
shapen, it continues to work.
Capacitors can store and discharge
electricity much quicker than batteries.
«The nano materials are a one-dimension-
al structure with very small diameters,»
says Stanford researcher Yi Cui in an arti-
cle on the website futurity.org. The tiny size
of the nano material helps them adhere to
the fibrous paper, resulting in a battery and
super-capacitor that is extremely durable.
Work by a team led by
Dr Chieh Chang at UC
Berkeley has created
nanofibres with in situ
mechanical stretch and
electrical poling
characteristics that
produce piezoelectric
properties. This image
shows the current, in
nano Amps, produced
by the stretch and
release of the fibre.
(American Chemical
Society)
Larger than Nano
L-3 Communications Rugged Command
and Control Solutions has introduced its
micro display wrist-worn computer sys-
tem to the European and US market. The
unit runs on two internal rechargeable
Covertly Hydrogenous Power
Soldier systems
Li-ion batteries or an external 10 to 14
VDC power source. A removable CFast
storage card simplifies upgrades and mis-
sion planning/saving and a touch-screen
allows on-screen keyboard input via a
captive stylus or with a finger.
The stand-alone unit operates on an
Intel Atom-based processor and includes
an internal GPS. Dual rechargeable bat-
teries allow hot-swappable replacement.
The system supports Linux and some
Windows operating systems, which are
viewed on a 3.5-inch sunlight-readable
VGA LCD panel.
Wrist-worn computers are the current
standard for easy of information transfer
for situational awareness and data com-
munication. One of the forerunners in
this field is the V-Rambo from Tadiran
Spectralink.
The V-Rambo is a manpack tactical
receiver already in use by the IDF, and
one that allows dismounted troops to
download real-time video captured from
drones or other aircraft and ground plat-

With a video receiver small enough to
fit into a cargo pocket and weighing
less than 1.2 kg (for the advanced
dual-band version), Tadiran Spectra-
link’s V-Rambo is a battle-proven
system that provides immediate
situational awareness through real-time
video. (Tadiran Spectralink)
S
een here in the author’s photograph from Eurosatory 2010, the Power Knight
back-packable fuel cell from Greenerg (pronounced ‘greener gee’) runs on
inert hydrogen tablets (seen in photo) and one simply adds water to
provide clean, quiet power for radio,
PDA, night vision goggles – essentially a
full set of combat gear – for 72 hours. A
low thermal signature of only 4° C above
ambient temperature and a 600 Wh/kg
power-to-weight ratio (up from the earli-
er model’s 300 Wh/kg) make it very suit-
able for covert operations. The unit has
no moving parts and the chemical reac-
tion is non-toxic and non-flammable.
Operational range is between -30° to
+50° C (normal batteries cannot operate below -4° C). One endearing feature is that
the system delivers perfectly stable voltage through the life of the battery. The com-
pany has also tested the system on drones – using the aircraft’s wings as the water
vessel. Filling the drone’s wings with water adds the same weight penalty as using
normal batteries but provides around six times the power. Once the chemical reac-
tion has begun, the battery can be stored for up to six months and will undergo an
almost imperceptible loss of power.

Tests have revealed that a paper super-

capacitor may last through 40,000 charge-
discharge cycles.
Engineers at the University of Califor-
nia Berkley have created what they term
‘energy-scavenging’ nano-fibres that are
designed to be woven into clothing. The
development of these organic fibre nano-
generators could eventually lead to wear-
able smart clothes that can power elec-
tronics through ordinary body movements.
These nano-sized power sources have
piezoelectric properties which convert the
energy created through mechanical stress, 128 MB of flash memory and 256 MB of ram make the 645-gram Zypad WR1100
stretches and twists into electricity. from Eurotech a powerful little wrist-worn computer. Bluetooth connectivity is standard
Translated to the battlefield, this and twelve-channel GPS (DGPS & SBas, Wass, Egnos) and Wwan (GSM/GPRS/
means that as the soldier moves his elec- Edge/Umts) add-on modules allow customising to the mission requirements. The
tronics charge, and at a size of only 500 second-generation system is seen here resting on the author’s arm; the Zypad is
nanometres – 100 times thinner than the currently in its fourth-generation iteration, the testing of which was completed in late-
human hair – the weight penalty is virtu- 2009. The touch-screen Zypad can run Windows and Linux operating systems. More
ally imperceptible. than 100 units are currently being used by ‘European forces’. (Armada/JK)

armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010 43

Soldier systems
forms. The system displays the imagery
on a wrist-worn LCD monitor.
Eurotech offers another solution, with
its Zypad WR1100 rugged wrist-wear-
able wireless computer, which runs Linux
on a PXA 270 processor running at 416
MHz. The Zypad is designed to Mil-STD-
810F for environmental considerations
and -461E requirements covering elec-
tromagnetic interference.
The two-element system comprises
the core computer and the rigid wrist sup-
Argon has developed a series of hand-
held computers that has sold to
Lockheed Martin, GDC4S and Boeing,
and which is now receiving
recognition from large US Army
organisations. The company’s AW3
wrist-worn unit (shown), although still
in prototype stage, has become an
item of intense discussion. (Argon)
port. A modular battery pack and add-on
module expansion system provide
adjustable power requirements and the
addition of Wwan and GPS capabilities.
User tracking is achieved through a tilt
and dead-reckoning system, which also
notifies if a user has been motionless for
a specified period of time.
In the Cells
In April 2010 the US Naval Surface War-
fare Center Dahlgren Division queried
industry for assistance in developing a
44
tery packs and chargers. The company
In March of this was awarded two US patents in 2010 cov-
year L-3 ering its portable battery charger configu-
Communications ration: the first design reduces thermal
RCCS introduced its conduction by separating the circuit
micro display charging housing from the battery charg-
rugged wrist-worn ing housing; the second patent is for an
computer system enhanced protection system that ensures
into the European
and US markets.
USB connectivity,
up to two GB Ram
and 32 GB CFast
storage cards
provide soldiers
with advanced
situational
awareness. (L-3
RCCS)
lightweight wearable power distribution
interface for the US Marine Corps. The
request was for a unit that will automati-
cally recognise any and all connected
power sources and battery-operated
devices issued to an individual marine
and to the rifle squad.
The concept is to reduce the wasteful
practice of discarding partially spent bat-
teries and to alleviate the marine’s need to
carry multiple battery types. The “Personal By-products of Ultracell’s RMFC fuel
Power Strip” (PPS) should provide univer- cells (here the XX55) are small
sal compatibility through a standardised amounts of water vapour and carbon
architecture that integrates both legacy and dioxide – quantities equivalent to a
future portable power sources and power- small child exhaling. Yet this small,
consuming equipment with one-handed 1.6-kg pack provides a continuous 50
plug-and-play functionality. Watts (85 peak) of power at twelve to
Micro Power Electronics from Beaver- 30 Volts for up to two weeks.
ton, Oregon, offers a line of rugged bat- (Ultracell)
The RF-7800S-LR secure personal leader radio (left) from Harris is a modular, and very
simply added, upgrade to the 7800S-TR team radio (right) that yields additional I/O
connections and a Wince operating system. The Leader Radio is at the heart of Harris’
Falcon Fighter for Future Soldier Systems development, parts of which have already
been sold to ‘a special operations’ customer in 2010. It offers hands-free operation
and provides seamless voice and data connection to upper echelon networks. A
standard USB interface connects PDAs or laptops for enhanced situational awareness.
(Armada/JK)
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Soldier systems
the power packs continue to work even if
there is a component failure that would
disable a conventional battery.
In October 2008, the US Department
of Defense held a Wearable Power com-
petition for a design that provides 20
Watts of electrical power for 96 hours,
weighs less than four kilos and attaches to
a standard military vest.
Ultracell’s XX25, with Reformed
Methanol Fuel Cell (RMFC) technology,
met the competition’s benchmark with
power to spare after running for four days.
The company explains that methanol,
being liquid at room temperature, is easier
to handle, package and store than hydro-
gen, which makes it an ideal fuel source.
The RMFC technology reforms liquid
methanol into hydrogen gas, which is then
supplied directly to the fuel cell for electri-
cal power production.
In December 2009 Ultracell received a
$ three million stimulus award from the
US Air Force towards further develop-
ment of the XX55 fuel cell for soldiers
currently in the field. Six months earlier
the US Army Cerdec voiced interest with
The US Army Research,Development
and Engineering Command (Cerdec)
approached Ultralife with a view to
producing this conformal battery that
slips into Sapi armour plate holders.
The battery, which is controlled
through a power manager and offers
between five and 36 Volts in and out,
should be on the market by third-
quarter 2010. (Armada/JK)
46
The military range
from Lemo is a
family of rugged,
high-performance,
ergonomically
soldier-proof,
precision modular
connectors that
have been purpose-
designed for every
application.
(Armada/JK)
a contract award to extend through
March 2010 – this also for XX55 devel-
opment. Ultracell also provided its XX25
fuel cells for the US Army’s Expedi-
tionary Warrior Experiment in 2010.
The alternative has finally become
standard.
Cable’s Nest
Connecting vision systems, communica-
tion gear, body-worn computers and
On display with other UK Fist modern
soldier kit, the suprisingly light Miltrak
system from Thales offers a combi-
nation of intra-squad communication
and squad-leader-to-upper echelon
network-centric situational awareness.
(Armada/JK)
power packs demands a network of
cables and connectors. Although some
few new-technology systems are being
developed and tested, the lion’s share of
the circuits are still connected by tradi-
tional cables.
There has been an influx of demands
for small, rugged connectors, but the
specification bar is continually being
raised by system designers and integra-
tors. Connectors and cabling must handle
more bandwidth, be resistant to electro-
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
magnetic pulses and interference (no
small feat considering all the electronics
on today’s battlefield, they must be
tougher and yes smaller and lighter than
ever before.
Connectors and cables must first and
foremost be soldier proof. They must sur-
vive a tug, for example, when disconnec-
tion called for a twist. Often a soldier will
carry a radio by its cable – even swinging
it by the cable when boredom strikes dur-
ing lonely sentry duty.
Switzerland’s Lemo introduced its
M Series connector family at Afcea in
February 2010. The aluminium connec-
tors are small and lightweight and almost
designed specifically for body-worn elec-
tronics. The M Series connectors feature
360° screening against RF interference,
vibration, water ingress and corrosion.
Their ratchet-coupling mechanism allows
quick mating with but one-half turn to
seat, with an IP68 rating seal.
Fischer Connectors has designed its
Landforce connector line to the rugged
requirements of future soldier
programme equipment. High shock
resistance, NBCR-ready sealing and
complete 360° shielding are standard
with this line. (Fischer)
Fischer Connectors has developed its
Landforce series of miniature, ultra-light,
rugged connectors that feature IP68/69
sealing level even when unmated. Multi-
pole contact designs (from two to nine)
are available with two plug body sizes.
The aluminium Landforce line was
designed for future soldier system equip-
ment and is guaranteed for up to 10,000
mating cycles.
Weight and ruggedness can be over-
come with the increased use of ceramics
and composites, but in case of a fire the
addition of more toxic fume sources is
always a risk. One option is to further the
development of fibre-optics for body-
worn equipment. This solves the weight
problem and the electromagnetic inter-
ference issue.
Miniaturisation and nano technology
developments are continuing to advance
quite rapidly, and application to soldier
wearable electronics proceeds in syn-
chronicity. a
 SenSe.

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Shows & exhibitions

Wheels and Deals

at DSA 2010

Eurocopter is now virtually certain to

provide the Royal Malaysian Air Force
with twelve EC725 Cougars

Malaysia has long been regarded as one of the most important defence markets in Southeast Asia;
Visited by even so since 2004 there has been a hiatus in major procurement programmes for both political and
Conrad Schiller economic reasons. This hiatus is now over, as a number of high-value contracts were signed at
the recent Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur. This was the twelfth edition
of DSA, a biennial event that is recognised as one of the most important tri-service defence exhibi-
tions in Asia.

I
n total RM10.4 billion ernisation plans of the plans have evolved to take Although how Malaysia
(US$3.25 billion) worth of Malaysian military. The aim into account the require- intends to achieve these
contracts were signed at now is to get the modernisa- ments of networking and capabilities is unclear.
DSA by the Malaysian gov- tion process back on track, other high-technology devel-
ernment. Or to be more pre- but doubts remain that there opments. Previously, mod- Army Armour
cise, the government signed will be enough funding made ernisations were primarily Modernisation
five Memoranda of Agree- available to make up for this platform based; now this has
ment, three Letters of lost time. Especially since been expanded to include Difficulties in defence mod-
Acceptance, four Letters of Malaysian modernisation network-enabled capabilities. ernisation planning aside,
Intent and eight contracts to
be converted into fully fixed
contracts at a later date.
This series of procure-
ments initiated at DSA are
only the start of what prom-
ises to be an intense period
of purchasing activity for
Malaysia. In prospect over
the next two to three years
are major programmes for
all three Malaysian services –
the Royal Malaysian Army,
the Royal Malaysian Navy
and the Royal Malaysian Air
Force. With these pro-
grammes to be funded out of
allocations from the 10th
Malaysia Plan, the national
five-year economic develop-
ment programme that will
commence in 2011.
The fact that there has
been little in the way of major
defence procurement in The 8 X 8 FNSS Pars will provide the basis for the Malaysian AV-8 LAV programme to be led by
Malaysia over the last six Deftech. The Malaysian Army is looking to acquire 257 AV-8 vehicles in twelve different variants in
years has hampered the mod- this $ 2.5 billion programme. (FNSS)

48 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010


The TDA 2R2M is already in use in Malaysia on a tracked
vehicle and is thus in good position to be selected for the
Mortar version on the AV-8. (TDA)
one of the contracts signed at
DSA marked the start of a
major programme for the
Malaysian Army, the long-
cherished plan to begin
replacing its light armoured
vehicle fleet. In the 1980s the
Malaysian Army placed
numerous vehicle contracts,
the two most important being
the selection of the Thyssen-
Henschel Radpanzer Condor
(459 vehicles acquired) and
the selection of the Belgian
Sibmas (186 vehicles). These
two types have reached the
end of their operational lives
and the Malaysian Army was
looking to find a suitable
replacement.
The Condor is a 4 x 4 vehi-
cle based on the Mercedes-
Benz Unimog chassis with a
weight of 12.4 tonnes. The
Malaysian Army has five
Condor variants in service:
two with turrets, one mount-
ing a 20-mm cannon and the
other with a twin 7.62-mm
Nato machine gun installa-
tion, there is a command
variant, an ambulance vari-
ant and a recovery version.
The Sibmas is a 6 x 6 with a
combat weight in the 18-
tonne range. 162 Sibmas
AFSV vehicles are equipped
with the CSE90 turret
mounting the Cockerill 90-
mm Mk III gun, with the
remaining 24 being recovery
vehicles.
The replacement of the
Condor fleet was seen as the
priority by the Malaysian
Army. The original intention
was to select a new 8 x 8 and
then purchase a first batch of
98 vehicles, with the eventual
requirement being 521 vehi-
cles. In 2006, three candidate
vehicles for the requirement
were identified in the form of
the General Dynamics Euro-
pean Land Systems-Mowag
Piranha IIIC, the Bumar
Rosomak (a version of the
Patria AMV modified to Pol-
ish Army specifications and
license-built by WZM in
Poland) and the FNSS Pars.
All three vehicles were tri-
alled by the Malaysian Army
after the DSA exhibition of
2006. Then the programme
was effectively halted due,
amongst other reasons, to the
lack of adequate defence
funding.
Of the three vehicles that
were evaluated in 2006, the
Piranha IIIC seemed to be
highly favoured by the
Malaysian Army. Yet, the
Bumar and FNSS offerings
also had strong arguments
for selection. Bumar had
been selected in 2002 to pro-
vide the Malaysian Army
with 48 PT-91M Pendekar
main battle tanks and 14 sup-
port vehicles (ARV+AEV+
AVLB) and was therefore an
DCNS is to supply the Malaysian navy with a Scorpene simulator. Malaysia has two Scorpenes,
the second of which – the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman – is here seen sailing away from the French
coast. (DCNS)
established supplier to
Malaysia. This existing sup-
plier relationship saw Bumar
having the lead role in trying
to meet the needs of the
Malaysian light armoured
vehicle requirement with
Patria, the original equip-
ment manufacturer, taking a
supporting role.
The Rosomak variant that
was trialled by Malaysia in
2006 was the IFV version
equipped with the Oto
Melara Hitfist turret mount-
ing an ATK Mk 44 Bushmas-
ter II 30 x 173-mm cannon
(the same turret was also
installed on the Piranha IIIC
for the Malaysian trials). As
the Rosomak was based on
the standard Patria AMV,
there were numerous vehicle
options available to meet
Malaysian Army require-
ments.
FNSS of Turkey was also a
major supplier to the
Malaysian Army, having
secured, with local partner
Deftech, an order to supply
211 ACV-300 Adnan tracked
vehicles in ten different vari-
ants in 2000 (in 2008 they
would receive an order for 48
more ACV-300 and eight
ACV-S vehicles). Where
FNSS was at a disadvantage
was that the Pars vehicle was
at an early stage in its devel-
opment compared to its two
competitors. FNSS had start-
ed work on the Pars to meet
potential Turkish Land
Forces Command require-
ments for a wheeled vehicle
and had developed a family
in 4 x 4, 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 con-
Shows & exhibitions
figurations. The 8 x 8 variant
trialled in Malaysia in 2006
had a combat weight of
24,494 kg and mounted a
Sharpshooter turret (as used
on 31 of the ACV-300 vehi-
cles in Malaysia) with a 25-
mm M242 cannon.
Since then the Pars design
has been refined and has also
obtained orders from the
Turkish Command. In Janu-
ary 2007, FNSS was awarded
a $ 130.7 million contract to
design, develop and manu-
facture an Amphibious
Assault Bridge system that
will be mounted on a new
vehicle based on Pars 8 x 8
automotive components.
During 2009 the
Malaysian Army LAV pro-
gramme suddenly came back
to life, although it was
expected by many that there
might be a new set of trials to
look at a broader range of
vehicles. In the end this did
not happen and it seems that
the two main systems under
consideration were the 8 x 8
Pars being offered by FNSS
and Deftech and the Roso-
mak being offered by Bumar
and local partner Naza
Defence, a subsidiary of the
Naza Group. The fate of the
LAV requirement was
resolved at DSA when the
Malaysian government
signed a letter of intent with
Deftech with a potential
value of RM 8 billion ($ 2.56
billion) to cover the design,
development and manufac-
ture of 257 units in twelve
different variants for the
Malaysian Army.

armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010 49

Shows & exhibitions

Likely contenders for Malaysia’s attack helicopter requirement are the AW129 (AgustaWestland) and the Eurocopter Tiger.
(Armada/EHB)

The Indigenous Route shooter that is already in use ing an order at some undis- contracts included the acqui-
with the Malaysian Army) closed point in the future for sition of 180 Heckler & Koch
What started off as a relative- and a version equipped with a second batch of vehicles. HK416 rifles for RMN Spe-
ly direct procurement of a a 7.62-mm machine gun in an The second batch will amor- cial Forces, indigenous bridg-
vehicle had evolved into a far overhead remote-control tise the investment in the pro- ing systems and maintenance
more complex programme, station. The anti-tank version gramme and will bring down and associated support of the
under which an LAV was to of the AT-8 with a two-man the unit cost of the vehicles as Malaysian Armed Forced
be developed to meet the turret is likely to mount the well. There are also plans to command and control sys-
specific requirements of the Denel Ingwe missile, there is explore the export market for tem.
Malaysian Army. Deftech also a 120-mm mortar vari- the AV-8. DCNS received a RM
will act as the prime contrac- ant (and this should be the Other contracts signed at 128.5 million (€ 27 million)
tor and systems integrator for TDA 2R2M that has already DSA saw Deftech receive a contract to provide a simula-
what is known as AV-8 been selected for a tracked RM 97 million-worth letter tor and other training servic-
Wheeled Armoured Vehicle, mortar carrier). Other AV-8 of intent for spares provision es for the two Scorpene class
with the programme calling variants are surveillance for the PT-91M tank fleet, submarines entering service
for a prototype vehicle to be vehicle, signals vehicle, com- while TDA received a RM 60 with the RMN. The spares
ready for trials in early 2012 mand vehicle, fitter vehicle, million contract to supply and support requirements of
and all 257 vehicles to be ambulance and NBC recon- eight 120-mm 2R2M mortars the RMAF fleet of 18 Sukhoi
delivered to the Malaysian naissance vehicle. for the eight ACV-S vehicles Su-30MKM aircraft were
Army by 2016. To fully meet the ordered in 2008 and SME met by a RM 100 million
The AV-8 will be a modi- Malaysian Army LAV Ordnance received contracts contract awarded to Irkut. In
fied version of the 8 x 8 Pars requirement some 400 vehi- for small arms, mortar and addition, Irkut could be
with FNSS acting as the tech- cles will be required, indicat- artillery ammunition. Other investing up to $ five billion
nology partner. Initially FNSS
will supply the Pars in kit
form for assembly by Deftech
in Malaysia, in parallel with
this, a full local production
capability will be established
to allow the complete manu-
facture of the vehicle. Other
partners in the AV-8 pro-
gramme include Denel Land
Systems, who will supply tur-
rets and act as a systems inte-
grator on the programme.
Thales will act as the electron-
ic integrator, using its OICS
vehicle electronics architec-
ture and will provide mission
system integration on specific
AV-8 variants. The communi-
cation fit for the AV-8 will be
supplied by Sapura Thales
Electronics.
The twelve variants of the
AV-8 vehicle will include: a
30-mm, cannon-equipped,
two-man turret, the Denel
LCT30 with a 30 x 173-mm
gun, a 25-mm, cannon- A Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet lands on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. Despite
equipped, one-man turret failing to sell the Super Hornet to Malaysia in 2003, Boeing and the F/A-18E/F are seen as a
(probably the FNSS Sharp- strong contender for the Malaysian MiG-29N/Nub replacement programme. (US Navy)

50 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010


Apart from the Boeing Super Hornet, Malaysia is still considering other types of fighter aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and
the Saab Gripen, but Russia is expected to offer the MiG-35 in its answer to Malaysia’s request for information.
to establish a major facility
for research and develop-
ment, component manufac-
ture and design, as well as
maintenance, repair and
overhaul at the new
Malaysian Defence Security
Technology Park. The
Malaysian government has
established the park to
develop a regional defence
industrial hub and is looking
to attract foreign companies
to invest and build facilities.
Inevitably one inducement
to invest in the facility will be
as a part of attempting to win
new contracts in country.
Helicopter
Opportunities
After the AV-8, the most
important piece of business
at DSA was the signature of
a RM 1.6 billion ($ 500 mil-
lion)-worth letter of acquisi-
tion with Eurocopter cover-
ing the supply of twelve
EC725 Cougars. In Septem-
ber 2008 the EC725 had been
selected to meet an air force
requirement for a Csar/Sar
helicopter to replace the old
Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri in
that role, but the contract was
sidelined in October 2008
due to the domestic political
controversy that it caused.
Feeling that circumstances
are now more favourable, the
Malaysian government now
intends to go ahead with the
contract.
The EC725 purchase is
the first of what could be a
sequence of major helicopter
orders over the next few
years in Malaysia. But a full
replacement of the Nuri fleet
is not on the cards, despite
the fact that the helicopter
has been in service for more
than 30 years. The air force
will be contracting for a Nuri
life extension programme, to
be performed in Malaysia in
the near future.
The Malaysian Army
intends to acquire a Should the new fighter be
squadron of attack helicop- available earlier than antici-
ters, with the Eurocopter pated delivery then the MiG-
Tiger and the AgustaWest- 29 would be taken out of
land AW129 as likely con- service sooner.
tenders. The number of heli- The air force is looking to
copters to be purchased is acquire 18 new fighters and
dependent upon how much has issued a Request for
funding is received from the Information (RFI) to a num-
10th Malaysia Plan, depend- ber of potential suppliers.
ing on the amount between The future course of the pro-
six and twelve helicopters gramme depends on the RFI
are in prospect. If the fund- responses, the level of fund-
ing is insufficient then there ing available for the pro-
is a possibility of adding to gramme under the 10th
the existing AW109 Light Malaysia Plan and the offset
Observation Helicopter fleet requirements to be imposed
(eleven helicopters in serv- by the government. At this
ice). Another helicopter pro- stage the aircraft under con-
gramme could come from sideration include the Boeing
the navy, but this will require F/A-18E/F Block II Super
that its future surface ship Hornet, the Eurofighter
programmes are funded. Typhoon, the Lockheed
Martin F-16C/D Block 50/52
Air Force Programmes and the Saab Gripen. Russia
initially proposed that the
There are two major air force RMAF purchase more
programmes in prospect, Sukhoi Su-30MKM aircraft
both to be funded under the to add a second squadron to
10th Malaysia Plan. The first its current fleet, but this did
is a new fighter and the sec- not fit in with the force’s
ond is an Airborne Early concept. It now seems that
Warning & Control the Russian offer will likely
(AEW&C) aircraft. In the be based on the MiG-35.
mid-1990s the Royal As regards the AEW&C
Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) requirement, potential sup-
acquired 18 MiG-29N/Nub pliers include Embraer,
aircraft for the air-defence Northrop Grumman and
role and now the intention is Saab. The RMAF is looking
to find a replacement. to acquire a total of four air-
Regarding the AEW&C pro- craft, with the programme
gramme, the air force sees being dependent, as before,
this as a critical capability on funding from the 10th
and has been attempting to Malaysia Plan. As an
fund such a programme for AEW&C capability has
many years. been under consideration for
The MiG-29N/Nub fleet many years, if the air force is
was down to 16 aircraft at the confident of funding, a full
start of 2009 and the RFI could be released very
Malaysian Ministry of rapidly.
Defence stated that they
would reduce the fleet num- Naval Programmes
ber to ten by the end of 2009
and phase out the aircraft The RMN is in the process of
completely in 2010. The policy looking at a number of sur-
was then changed and the face ship acquisitions,
MiG-29N/Nub will remain in although these do not really
service through 2015, at which reflect what they would actu-
point it will be retired and ally like to acquire. Back in
replaced by the new fighter. 2006, Malaysia had signed a
letter of intent with BAE
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
Shows & exhibitions
Systems covering the pur-
chase of two frigates. Known
as the Lekiu Batch II pro-
gramme, it was intended to
build both frigates in
Malaysia, but a full agree-
ment on costs, equipment
and local construction was
never finalised, leading to
the programme being termi-
nated. The navy had envis-
aged these two new frigates
complementing the two
existing Lekiu class frigates
that were commissioned in
1999, and potentially setting
the scene for two more
frigates being acquired at a
later date.
The future force structure
plan does call for the acquisi-
tion of two more frigates,
although not before 2015.
Instead the main future sur-
face combatant programme
is now the ‘Batch II Corvet-
te’, with the selected design
to be built in Malaysia by
Boustead Naval Shipyard at
Lumut. The corvette desig-
nator is somewhat mislead-
ing, as these units will have a
displacement in the 2000-
tonne range. The RMN has
reportedly approached
DCNS, Daewoo Shipbuild-
ing & Marine Engineering,
ThyssenKrupp Marine Sys-
tems and numerous other
yards in connection with this
programme.
The other major naval
programme is the acquisition
of a Multi Role Support Ship
(MRSS), with up to three
units required. This pro-
gramme has been under dis-
cussion for many years, but it
is now believed that it could
be funded, in full or at least
partially, under the 10th
Malaysia Plan. The MRSS is
in the LPD category. Should
the navy opt for a larger dis-
placement unit, the number
of ships will then be reduced.
European shipyards and
Korean shipyards are all
interested in this pro-
gramme. a
51
 Live Field
Testing
What’s Up?

with
Thales

Ride in the Bushmaster confirmed

excellent all-round independent
suspension and power reserve

Prior to the opening of the Eurosatory exhibition Thales organised a one-day field testing the increasing voracity of
electronic equipment that
where it lined up a series of its systems that were to be exhibited at the Parc des Exposi- many customers want to
tions at Villepinte. It was a good opportunity to have a first-hand impression of many exist- install; such as jammers, BMS,
ing and new systems. As underlined by Hervé Barbier, Vice President Business Develop- extra radios, etc. In terms of
ment at Thales Land Systems, the company is fully engaged in supporting ongoing armour improvements, the
monocoque design lends
operations and in 2009 won about half of the British Ministry of Defence urgent opera- itself to easily fix add-on
tional requirements. armour. Also available now is
a Euro 4-compliant Cummins
diesel engine.

I
n the case of five of these tions and in service with simplicity and avoided intro- An interesting remark by
contracts, Thales was able to three nations. Australia is ducing upgrades during the Geff Miller was that the ten
deliver the equipment in certainly the principal user, production, a solution often to 20 Bushmasters that had
less than six months. Thales with 736 vehicles ordered, adopted by other armies suffered roadside bomb
has also designed, delivered the first delivered in August when a contract extends over attacks and were sent back to
and is currently operating 2003 and over 600 delivered a long period of time. the company for repair are
secure communication servic- since. The 86 vehicles for the This does not mean that now back to work.
es within the International Netherlands and the 24 for the Bushmaster didn’t Riding in a Bushmaster
Security and Assistance Force Britain have been delivered. evolve. A typical improve- immediately illustrates the
(Isaf) in Afghanistan, with According to Geoff Miller, ment, common to many cur- advantage of fully independ-
over 50 sites and 6000 users Thales Australia Business rent vehicles, is the increase ent suspensions over live
connected, while it is provid- Development Manager for in on-board power availabili- axle. The Arvin Meritor pro-
ing an «Istar by the hour» Export, the Australian Army ty, which started at 140 Ah gressive coil spring suspen-
service which totalled over decided to favour logistic and aims at 600 Ah to satisfy sions with upper control arm
30,000 hours of operation.
Lessons learned with those
new business models would be
exploited for future contracts,
said Christophe Dumas, direc-
tor for strategy at the C4I divi-
sion. Talks are also underway
with the Netherlands and
Canada on camp protection
solutions. Thales is also the
mission system design author-
ity for the Talisman bomb
clearance system being
acquired by Britain.
Turning to land vehicles,
one of the Thales products
that is extensively used in
Afghanistan is the Bushmas- The Margot 5000 surveillance system includes a Catherine long-range thermal camera, a
ter 4 ⫻ 4, which is now avail- daylight camera and a laser rangefinder. The Margot screen provides the user with the best
able in numerous configura- possible situational awareness. (Armada/PV)

52 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010


The tactical situation with the areas observed by the linked
radars as well as the friendly corridors and the threat area
as displayed by the Thales Engagement Control Station.
(Armada/PV)
and lower wishbone do a
great job of the Thales off-
road test site at Cormeilles-
en-Vexin, some 40 km north-
west of Paris. The 246-kW
Caterpillar 3126E engine
and the ZF 6HP502 Ecomat
G2 transmission are key
elements in providing the 15-
tonner (which grosses at 17.2
tonnes max.) with superior
mobility characteristics. To
be able to drive down a steep
slope at crawling speed, stop
the vehicle mid-slope and
begin backing up without
effort was an impressive
experience.
The vehicle on demonstra-
tion was equipped with ballis-
tic add-on armour on the
sides and a Kongsberg Pro-
tector remotely-controlled
weapon station (sans weapon
and ammunition).
Thermal imaging was
another topic of the day, the
starring equipment being the
A darker window opens on the battlefield management
system screen to indicate the full link status of the satcom-
on-the-move system, including satellite link data.
(Armada/PV)
Margot 5000 integrated sur-
veillance system that incor-
porates a Catherine 8-12 µ
third-generation thermal
camera with two fields of
view (9° ⫻ 6.7° and 3° ⫻ 2.2°),
a x2 electronic zoom, colour
daylight CCD camera and
ten-km range laser range-
finder. Mounted on a tripod
with the tilt-head allowing a
360° azimuth orientation and
±90° elevation, the back end
was mounted in a tent. This
included the Isis computer,
the keyboard, the display and
joystick; from that position it
was possible to watch the
whole of the Pontoise-
Cormeilles airport.
The system proved to be
user friendly, a 360° view
shown on top of the screen
allowed one to readily per-
ceive the field of view used by
the sensor, which detects a
human being at a range of four
km and a large vehicle at over
armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010
nine. The 30-kg unit is in use
on the two Panhard VBL
Source (Système Optronique
Unique de Renseignement)
prototypes acquired by the
French Army.
The Belgian Army, for its
part, adopted the system to
upgrade its Pandur 6 ⫻ 6
vehicles for recce duty, while
the Luxembourg Army is
installing it on its 48 PRV
protected reconnaissance
vehicles based on KMW
Dingo 2 (for which Thales is
prime contractor).
Comes night and we were
able to put the Thales Lucie
night vision goggles through
their paces. Although
equipped with Gen II tubes,
the sight was pretty good and,
after a few moments of famil-
iarisation, it was pretty easy to
move around in the dark
without problems. One of the
peculiarities of those goggles
is their wide field of view –
over 50° compared to the nor-
mal 40° – and the use of a sin-
gle AA battery, which consid-
erably facilitates logistics.
Communications is cer-
tainly one of the core busi-
nesses of Thales. At tactical
level the newest equipment is
the F@stnet Twin, a two-band
software-defined radio for the
infantry team leader, which
currently contains the VHF
PR4G waveform as well as
the UHF St@rmille wave-
form, with the former used for
linking with platoon and com-
mand levels and the latter
allows maintaining links with
the team. Thales is currently
working on the UHF aero-
nautic waveform to allow the
infantry team leader to main-
tain contact with incoming
close air support assets.
The F@stnet Twin is a full
two-band radio (it allows to
talk on the two bands at the
same time) available with a
stereophonic headset, and
comes with an embedded
GPS, a twin antenna and an
output of five Watts, although
a booster function ups this to
eight (all packed into a 700-
gram kit sans battery). The
colour display, which pro-
vides a two-dimensional map
of the surroundings, has a
zooming facility to enlarge
the area of interest. Thales
demonstrated the ability of
the new radio, in the current
combat net radio environ-
ment, to exchange voice com-
munication with the F@stnet,
Flexnet and Nextw@ve
radios as well as both voice
What’s Up?
and data link with the
St@rmille; the latter using a
PDA for data input.
Still in the context of com-
munication, Thales deployed
a Panhard PVP vehicle
equipped with a satcom-on-
the-move facility operating
in X-band with a 55 ⫻ 35 cm
flat aerial – though a Ka par-
The F@stnet Twin
portable UHF/VHF two-
band software-defined
radio can also provide a
2D map of the area.
(Armada/PV)
abolic is also available. While
the satellite equipment sits in
a rack at the back of the vehi-
cle, the commander can
monitor, via a window over-
lay on the battlefield man-
agement display, the alarms,
azimuth aerial orientation
and signal level status
(throughput being between
512 kbps and 1 Mbps). Wor-
thy of notice is that although
the signal was lost due to an
obstacle, it was very quickly
re-acquired as soon as the
satellite was again visible to
the vehicle, showing the
behaviour of the electronic
tracking and of the algo-
rithms used.
Last but not least, Thales
demonstrated its Engage-
ment Control Station for air-
defence units. Unlike typical
command posts filled with
computers, radios and power
supply paraphernalia leaving
very little room for opera-
tors, the station looked like a
tidy office with three work-
ing positions, each with key-
board and screen although it
can be laid out with one to
five working stations. a
Paolo Valpolini
53
Digest

Euro Hawk’s the Block 20 variant and

Nexter XP2
Unveiled
At Eurosatory 2010 Nexter
kept its XP2 6 x 6 technology
demonstrator under the cur-
tains, the vehicle was hidden
in an inside area, however a
picture was released in early
July. The vehicle is in the 18 to
24-tonne class. Nexter has
developed a new cinematic
chain from the engine to the
wheels; a new solution was
also adopted for the hull,
which allows lowering the
weight while providing opti-
mal anti-mine and anti-IED
protection. Armour based on
new technologies should be
added. Inert fuel tanks were
used and an extinguishing
system against Molotov is
also included, as well as
newly-designed anti-mine
equipped with a new sigint
seats. A new type of open First Flight package from EADS
architecture was used to The maiden voyage of the Defence & Security, which
adapt the vehicle to the two Northrop Grumman/EADS will also provide a sigint
vehicles included in the Euro Hawk began on 29 June ground station separate from
French Scorpion programme, from Northrop’s Palmdale, the mission control, launch
the VBMR and the EBRC, California facility, from where and recovery ground station
and to other configurations, it climbed to 32,000 feet, from Northrop Grumman.
while a new proprietary soft- underwent a series of flight The Eurohawk consortium –
ware package is being used tests and landed two hours a 50:50 joint venture of the
into multi-function displays. later at Edwards Air Force two companies – received a
The vehicle answers all envi- Base. The Euro Hawk is the contract from the German
ronmental and safety regula- European configuration of Ministry of Defence in 2007
tions and is built thinking the RQ-4 Global Hawk high- to develop the Euro Hawk
toward Euro 4, 5 and 6 altitude drone – it is based on sigint system.
engines. Its width is limited to
2.55 metres in order to allow
it to stay within the normal
civilian traffic dimensions.
The XP2 carried out its first
trials from November 2009 to
April 2010, and following
Eurosatory was ready to carry
out an endurance test cam-
paign aimed at verifying the
entire driveline.

Spear Through the Chest!

T
hat’s the feeling an author/editor receives when discov-
ering he’s attributed the wrong photo to the right legend.
This occurred in our Compendium Tactical Radios, when
the legend extolling the virtues of the Spearnet radio from
ITT was coupled with ITT’s own Spearhead radio photo-
graph. Spearnet – Spearhead. Two vastly disparate but
uncommonly competent radio systems that are both shown
here for comparison. The Spearhead is on the left. MPM in PCV
for WGS-3
Recent US Army tests
designed to verify that Net-
work Centric Waveform
(NCW) terminals can operate
on the Ka-band over the
newly launched Wideband
Global Satcom (WGS-3) sys-
tem were conducted at Fort
Monmouth, New Jersey. The
tests featured several types of
satcom terminals using L-3
Linkabit’s MPM-1000
modems running the NCW
linked in a multi-node, full-
duplex, full-mesh network
that allowed point-to-point,
single-hop connectivity
between ‘disadvantaged’ on-
the-move, high-data-through-
put terminals. L-3 Linkabit
officials reported the Payload
Characterization and Verifi-
cation (PCV) tests demon-
strated the readiness of the
MPM-1000 modem to oper-
ate in the WGS-3 environ-
ment in multi-node configu-
ration with various antenna
apertures. Other companies
involved in the PCV tests
were General Dynamics
C4 Systems and the Mitre
Corporation.

54 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010


Feeling Froggy?
Try a Tadpole
General Dynamics Itronix
has released four new ultra-
thin client computers that
enable PC-like performance
(connectivity, high-speed
computing), connecting the
end-user to a network or
through a VPN. The Tadpole
range looks and acts like a
regular PC but enables
‘instant on’ and plug-and-play
setup as well as an integrated
VPN (Virtual Private Net-
work) for direct connectivity.
The company suggests that
core computing is migrating
from an end-user-centric
environment to secure cen-
tralized servers that enable IT
High Definition
Sniper Specs
France’s Bollé has recently
unveiled its new High Defini-
tion eye protection for low-
light situations or when an
extra splash of contrast is nec-
essary to help separate the
enemy from the background.
The spectacles increase visi-
CONNECTORS
FOR HARSH
ENVIRONMENTS
teams to work on server-
based capabilities that extend
to all clients across the net-
work. The new Tadpole team
members are the M1000
(shown) – a 1.3-kg device for
U.S. Navy photo used with permission without endorsement
highly mobile users, the
M1500, a high-performance
version offering a 15-inch
LCD, the Pulsar is a wireless
desktop for complex opera-
tions and the Pulsar Premium
which is a general-purpose
desktop. These clients join the
Topaz high-end computing
rugged notebook which was
launched in April of this year. A ratchet screw system
The Topaz was designed for
enables quick and secure
military power users requir-
ing workstation-class applica- coupling of the connectors.
tion with mobile-server flexi-
bility.
An innovative solution
for harsh environments
very high contact density
ratchet screw coupling
mechanism
6 different sizes
lightweight aluminium shell
2 to 114 contacts
optimum space saving
oil and fuel resistant
IP 68
high shock and vibration
resistance
ble light received by the eyes vibration absorbtion flange
from the normal 90% tradi-
tionally associated with clear
arctic grip or
knurled design
glasses to 96%. This light
enhancement provides a lightning test passed
stronger contrast and higher
definition. The High Defini-
tion glasses (in background),
as with other Bollé products, LEMO SA - Switzerland
are certified up to Stanag Phone : (+41 21) 695 16 00
2920 ballistic resistance. Fax : (+41 21) 695 16 02
info@lemo.com
 T
Digest
he high-capacity, line-of-sight software-defined radio RF-
7800W from Harris has recently received US Govern-
ment Federal Information Processing Standard (Fips)
140-2 Level 2 certification which assures that the unit, the
embedded cryptography and management interfaces meet
strict security standards for handling sensitive but unclassified
data. The RF-7800W is a wireless IP networking radio that
provides long-distance, high-speed wireless data transmission
up to 80 Mbps out to 50 km to facilitate disparate combat
applications.

Next Issue (October/November 2010): 24 September, Advertising: 27 August

Military Watches Compendium Corvette Design

An often neglected piece of essential sol-
dier personal equipment is the watch.
They must be rugged, legible at night, but
without flaring into an enemy’s night
vision system, and waterproof.
Soldier-to-Soldier Comms
Ensuring soldiers maintain communica-
tion in high-stress situations has fostered
the development of small, light squad
radios which give a host of easy-to-use
communication options.
Compendium
C4ISR
Command, control, communications,
computers, intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance – the main elements of
battlespace awareness and network cen-
tricity. This domain is the eyes and ears of
any conflict, and includes intelligence
from manned and unmanned ground and
aerial assets, command centres and
everything travelling on the airwaves.
Mobility – Air, Sea, Land
Wars no longer are fought along one’s
own borders, but far away on the other
side of the globe, and sometimes where
there are no natural or man-made
resources. Everything has to be taken
there, ships carrying boats, planes carry-
ing the vehicles that will carry men…
C-Ram
Counter rocket, artillery and mortar
systems has become the latest way to
defend against unguided rockets and
mortar rounds. C-ram units have to be as
accurate as rogue rockets and mortar
bombs aren’t.
Exoskeletons
As weird and unserious as drones
appeared to be a few years ago, exoskele-
tons may in fact mature even faster than
autonomous robots. They carry weights
where wheels and tracks can’t, and work
in symbiosis with their operator.
The way the design of corvettes has been
evolving in recent years is quite fascinat-
ing – not to mention the punch they can
deliver. In total contrast, they offer suffi-
cient glamour to serve as diplomatic mis-
sion platforms.
Naval Self-protection
Very much a complement to the previous
title, this article will describe the systems
that are being developed to protect ships
from incoming threats. Corvettes now
pack such a punch that they have become
a prime target in a war or conflict.
Explosives Disposal Robots
Small remotely controlled (generally
tracked) vehicles, thanks to sensors that
can be accurately positioned for optimal
viewing from the operator have become
increasingly helpful for defusing and
destroying suspect object.
Drone Update

Naval Medium-calibre,
Remotely-controlled Turrets
Sufficiently compact to be simply bolted
on a deck without requiring penetration,
are operated from below decks, and with
their tracking facility give little chance to
an intruder to remain unscathed under
their 20 to 30-mm calibre punch.
Combat Drones
Their design is closely following the evo-
lution of their on-board pilot predeces-
sors: merely started with a couple of air-
droppable weapons they are now moving
into the realm of stealthiness and may
soon partially replace the bomber in its
dirtiest missions.
The regular unmanned aircraft news review,
which catches up with the latest develop-
ments of this fast-moving discipline.
Show Report – Eurosatory
From Paris, France, the Armada team
reports on the technologies and business
deals underway at the show.

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56 armada INTERNATIONAL 4/2010