Patriot SAM replacement

[bring_it_on]

Next Patriot Missiles: Upward, Outward, Onward ; 02/2017

Building on current successes with the Patriot system, program representatives point to a range of future capability enhancements, with the Army having budgeted $2.9 billion in three budget lines for development and procurement between fiscal years 2013 and 2021 for various upgrades and a longterm radar solution.

Specific budgeting is directed toward three ongoing upgrades to address obsolescence issues; four near-term hardware upgrades that began fielding before fiscal 2017; six midterm upgrades and supporting equipment that will begin fielding between fiscal 2017 and 2021; and long-term upgrades including a long-term radar solution, the details of which are still being determined.

Examples of the midterm upgrades range from the remaining hardware needed-a radar digital processor-to prepare the Patriot system for integration with the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System, to the PDB-8 software upgrade that, in addition to a second software upgrade called PDB-8.1, is intended to improve communications and system capabilities against certain threats.

"We're working very closely with our sister partner at Northrop Grumman [Corp.] to help the Army achieve that networked command and control capability," DeAntona said.

Some of the longer-term system investments are part of a program funding line established in the president's 2017 budget that the Army plans to manage as a new major defense acquisition program known as the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense sensor. The long-term sensor solution will be selected based on the findings of an ongoing analysis of alternatives that is being conducted for the current Patriot radar, with considerations ranging from the current Patriot radar with some modifications all the way up to brand-new radar development.

Army planners estimate that fielding for the selected radar solution could begin around fiscal 2028, with tactical fielding to be completed over a seven-year period.

 

[madhon]

Lockheed and MBDA submitted their proposal to germany for the MEADS. The current version lacks the Lockheed LFS altogether and relies solely on the MFCR.

Where did you see the lack of the LFS mentioned ?

 

[bring_it_on]

Lockheed and MBDA submitted their proposal to germany for the MEADS. The current version lacks the Lockheed LFS altogether and relies solely on the MFCR.

Where did you see the lack of the LFS mentioned ?

I was told this by an IHS contributor familiar with the German and Polish program. I'm working on trying to see If I can get something from someone at Lockheed familiar with the submission.

 

[marauder2048]

Possibly of interest. GAO looked (report attached) at operational and cost aspects of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS)
constellation and their Predator B fleet. TARS mounts a Lockheed L88 surveillance radar.



TARS CPFH: $950
Predator B CPFH: $5,878

TARS Operational Availability: 61% (weather accounts for 30% of downtime)
Predator B Launch Rate: 69% (weather accounts for 20% of downtime)

 

[gTg]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but i think this is relevant in the context of the patriot replacement.
German newspaper Spiegel reports an US ally shot down a 300$ toy drone with a patriot costing 3000000$.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/us-armee-schiesst-drohne-mit-patriot-rakete-ab-a-1139011.html

Anybody has an idea what country it was?

 

[sferrin]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but i think this is relevant in the context of the patriot replacement.
German newspaper Spiegel reports an US ally shot down a 300$ toy drone with a patriot costing 3000000$.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/us-armee-schiesst-drohne-mit-patriot-rakete-ab-a-1139011.html

Anybody has an idea what country it was?

Surprised it could even track something that small and slow.

 

[gTg]

Surprised it could even track something that small and slow.

I was wondering about this as well and why i ask for the country, to check what radars are deployed.

EDIT: It must be somewhere without dense population.
The debris of the Patriot Missile are susceptible to cause more damage than the drone itself.

 

[Arjen]

Saudi Arabia?

 

[gTg]

One of the middle east operators is my guess as well: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and UAE.
But do they have them integrated with other sensors able to track a drone?

We see a lot of anti drone weapons recently (laser, MW, jamming, hacking, nets, shotguns, eagles...), but how the drones are detected/tracked in the first place is less clear... I was under impression they are generally tracked by optical means, be it MK1 eyeball or EO sensors.

 

[TomS]

Why not Israel?

 

[Arjen]

This might be prejudice on my part, but I would sooner expect one of the flush-with-cash Gulf states to fire a Patriot at a $300 drone than Israel.

 

[TomS]

This might be prejudice on my part, but I would sooner expect one of the flush-with-cash Gulf states to fire a Patriot at a $300 drone than Israel.

They might not have total clarity on how cheap the drone was. We know they've used Patriot on other drones flying in from Syria and Gaza.

https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/488552691904151552

http://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-we-tried-and-failed-3-times-to-bring-down-drone-over-golan/

 

[Arjen]

It's a thought. Now we have to wait for someone to start blabbing.

 

[bring_it_on]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but i think this is relevant in the context of the patriot replacement.
German newspaper Spiegel reports an US ally shot down a 300$ toy drone with a patriot costing 3000000$.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/us-armee-schiesst-drohne-mit-patriot-rakete-ab-a-1139011.html

Anybody has an idea what country it was?

Probably the Saudis. The cost mismatch is the reason why the IFPC and the Directed Energy options exist -

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/us-army-gets-world-record-setting-60kw-laser

 

[gTg]

This might be prejudice on my part, but I would sooner expect one of the flush-with-cash Gulf states to fire a Patriot at a $300 drone than Israel.

They might not have total clarity on how cheap the drone was. We know they've used Patriot on other drones flying in from Syria and Gaza.

https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/488552691904151552

http://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-we-tried-and-failed-3-times-to-bring-down-drone-over-golan/

I think if one nation should be well aware of the attrition game mechanics it is Israel. They have Iron Dome.

I'm still flabbergasted that a normal Partiot battery could engage a toy drone.
This puts the all that stealth talk once in a context I can actually grasp/visualize.

 

[TomS]

I think if one nation should be well aware of the attrition game mechanics it is Israel. They have Iron Dome.

Apparently they don't regd Iron Dome as a drone killer, for whatever reason.

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Everything-about-Iron-Dome-has-changed-450575

Patriot surface to air missiles are still relevant to the IAF’s air defense tools, [Zvika Haimovich, commander of the air force’s Aerial Defense Division]
said. “We used Patriots three times in recent years to shot down drones and an intruding [Syrian] aircraft. In the next clash with Hezbollah or Hamas, we will have to deal with drones, and this is where we will find the Patriot as a relevant reply.”

 

[lsvidal]

Iron Dome range is about 10 km against ballistic non-maneuvering targets, it trades range and agility for intercept altitude. And I also believe its control radars and computers weren´t designed to track small slow maneuvering targets, but fast moving rockets.

Patriot and David Sling are expensive, but can take down drones easily and much farther.

 

[bring_it_on]

It also depends upon what type of drones we are talking about here. Certainly the cheapest options would be through electronic attack, and directed energy but for a vast majority of these threats one would assume that a Stinger at the lower end, and something like an Aim-9 at the upper end should suffice. Don't see why one would need a PAC2/3 or a Stunner for such a role unless of course there is no other option.

With the Marines conducting an AOA on the Ground Based Air Defense - Next Generation Weapons system (potential follow on capability in the Stinger or bigger class imo) and given both theirs and US Army's interest in the On the Move air defense capability we could well see upgrades to some of these systems to offer even more capability at a lower cost relative to other kinetic options.

 

[GTX]

If we are talking about what are essentially off-the-shelf drones with no electronic hardening, it would make more sense to use some of the solutions offered by companies such as DroneShield

 

[bring_it_on]

If we are talking about what are essentially off-the-shelf drones with no electronic hardening, it would make more sense to use some of the solutions offered by companies such as DroneShield

US Forces are already using a counter UAS system in Iraq -

U.S. forces are using modern counter drone system in Iraq

https://www.blighter.com/products/auds-anti-uav-defence-system.html

 

[bring_it_on]

Air Force may join Army in refining multi-domain concept

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Army News Service) -- The Air Force may soon join the Army in developing new capabilities for multi-domain battle, senior leaders say, just a few weeks after Army and Marine Corps leaders came together to publish an outline on future combat operations.

In tomorrow's complex battlefield, the Army will need stronger air defense systems to counter emerging anti-access/anti-denial capabilities and free up airspace for friendly aircraft, said Maj. Gen. Bo Dyess, acting director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center.

The Air Force could then fly unimpeded during combat operations and provide close-air support to help ground troops move freely in contested areas.

"We would work on the air defense and the Air Force would be able to come in and conduct the missions that they need to conduct," Dyess said, while speaking Monday at the Association of the United States Army's Global Force Symposium. "It's a symbiotic relationship and we all need to work together to achieve the mission."

According to Dyess, the Air Force is "very close" to collaborating with the Army on the multi-domain battle concept in preparation for future warfare, which planners predict will involve Soldiers fighting in dense urban areas against near-peer enemies.

In February, the Army and Marine Corps published a white paper providing an overview of what ground troops may face in 2025-2040. In addition to discussing other potential threats, the four-page document states that Russia and China continue to improve and export integrated air defense systems, which can allow ground forces to establish air superiority on their own.

The white paper also states that ideas expressed in it will likely be refined and expanded based on input from the other services.

"This has got to be a joint fight from the beginning," Dyess said. "There is some urgency to this. We cannot afford as a nation to wait 10 years to develop this concept."

At AUSA's annual meeting in October, the Army officially announced the multi-domain battle concept, which is meant to broaden how the service fights on land -- sometimes with the assistance of air assets -- and allow for the incorporation of capabilities in the maritime and cyber domains.

Also during the meeting, leaders representing all services participated in a panel discussion, expressing their support of the concept.

Last week, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein rolled out a new concept called multi-domain command and control, which is intended to improve situational awareness, rapid decision making and employment of Air Force assets in future warfare.

U.S. Army Pacific has also been working directly with the joint Pacific Command, headed by Navy Adm. Harry Harris Jr., to finalize exercises to test and develop new multi-domain capabilities.

"Multi-domain battle is an evolution, not a revolution," Dyess said. "It's a natural evolution of combined arms designed to meet challenges of the 21st century."

Army Training and Doctrine Command has been developing the multi-domain concept and is now incorporating aspects of it into the Army Doctrine Publication 3-0, which outlines a common operational concept for Army forces, he added.

Improving interoperability with coalition partners is also a key part, he said, since they could support the U.S. Army against near-peer enemies. Last year, he noted, British, Australian and Italian military members, among other foreign troops, took part in an Army Warfighting Assessment at Fort Bliss, Texas, to test new capabilities like robotics and autonomous weapons systems.

"We would not fight on the future battlefield without allies," he said. "It will be joint, it will be a coalition, it will be intergovernmental."

Soldiers are also doing their part in envisioning future fighting capabilities, said Paul Rogers, director of the Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, or TARDEC.

Through Soldier innovation workshops, he said, young NCOs are plucked from their units to team up with creative design students from an industrial design college in Detroit to draw up capabilities the Soldiers would like to see in combat.

A dozen NCOs and up to 20 designers typically come up with nearly 300 advanced concepts over a 2 1/2-day workshop, he said Monday at the symposium.

"This is driven by the NCOs. They quickly take control and run the workshop, and it's their outbrief that we get after two and a half days," he said, adding that they've done almost 10 workshops so far. "It's really a great way for us to grab innovation from the Soldier."

In the near future, Army leaders plan to delve deeper and identify gaps in the capabilities that may be needed to fight in a multi-domain environment. At an event slated for August, specific gaps will then be addressed to industry partners, allowing them to hone in on their efforts, according to Dyess.

Examining capabilities in areas where the U.S. military has been dominant, like air supremacy, is also an important step in this process.

"We don't want to be surprised on the future battlefield," he said. "If we're surprised on the future battlefield, that means Soldiers, Marines, Airmen are going to be killed. In order to not be surprised, we have to question the assumptions that we have."

 

[bring_it_on]

Yemeni rebels attempt apparent ballistic missile saturation attack

Yemen's rebels fired multiple ballistic missiles on 28 March in an apparent attempt to overwhelm the Patriot battery that defends the neighbouring Saudi cities of Abha and Khamis Mushayt.Amateur video footage was posted on social media sites showing at least six Patriot missiles being launched in quick succession, indicating the battery was simultaneously engaging multiple threats.

Pro-rebel media outlets reported that three medium-range ballistic missiles had hit King Khalid Air Base and inflicted heavy losses. The airbase is located in Khamis Mushayt and plays a major role in the military intervention that Saudi Arabia and its allies launched in Yemen two years ago.

The rebels subsequently said a new type of missile called the Qaher-M2 was used in the attack. The Al-Masirah TV channel released footage showing three missiles being launched nearly simultaneously, purportedly at King Khalid Air Base.

Like the Qaher-1, the new version is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the old S-75 (SA-2 'Guideline') air defence system that has been adapted for the surface-to-surface role. The rebels said the Qaher-M2 has a range of 400 km with a 350 kg warhead and is capable of landing within 5-10 m of its aim point. When it was unveiled in December 2015, the Qaher-1 was said to have a range of 300 km with a 200 kg warhead, the same weight as the one carried by the SAM.

The latest attack brought the number of Yemeni ballistic missiles that the SPA has reported to have been shot down by the RSADF since June 2015 to at least 28

 

[sferrin]

Yemeni rebels attempt apparent ballistic missile saturation attack

Yemen's rebels fired multiple ballistic missiles on 28 March in an apparent attempt to overwhelm the Patriot battery that defends the neighbouring Saudi cities of Abha and Khamis Mushayt.Amateur video footage was posted on social media sites showing at least six Patriot missiles being launched in quick succession, indicating the battery was simultaneously engaging multiple threats.

Pro-rebel media outlets reported that three medium-range ballistic missiles had hit King Khalid Air Base and inflicted heavy losses. The airbase is located in Khamis Mushayt and plays a major role in the military intervention that Saudi Arabia and its allies launched in Yemen two years ago.

The rebels subsequently said a new type of missile called the Qaher-M2 was used in the attack. The Al-Masirah TV channel released footage showing three missiles being launched nearly simultaneously, purportedly at King Khalid Air Base.

Like the Qaher-1, the new version is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the old S-75 (SA-2 'Guideline') air defence system that has been adapted for the surface-to-surface role. The rebels said the Qaher-M2 has a range of 400 km with a 350 kg warhead and is capable of landing within 5-10 m of its aim point. When it was unveiled in December 2015, the Qaher-1 was said to have a range of 300 km with a 200 kg warhead, the same weight as the one carried by the SAM.

The latest attack brought the number of Yemeni ballistic missiles that the SPA has reported to have been shot down by the RSADF since June 2015 to at least 28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQaVOJ4tuZY

 

[fredymac]

Can't tell from the video what model Patriot missile is being fired. The Saudi's made a $5 Billion purchase back in late 2015 to buy 600 PAC 3 missiles so I assume that is what they are using.

 

[sferrin]

Can't tell from the video what model Patriot missile is being fired. The Saudi's made a $5 Billion purchase back in late 2015 to buy 600 PAC 3 missiles so I assume that is what they are using.

My guess would be PAC-2s. PAC-3s move a lot faster than what we're seeing there.

 

[bring_it_on]

I could be wrong but I don't think the Saudi's have operational PAC-3's yet although these could be UAE units.

 

[bring_it_on]

Poland submits LOR for Patriot air defence system

Poland has issued a letter of request (LOR) to Raytheon for its Patriot ground-based air and missile defence system, the company told Jane's on 31 March.The LOR follows a request for the Patriot that was made to the US government in late 2016, as well as multiple contracts and letters of intent related to the procurement already signed between Raytheon with Polish industry.

"Poland's letter of request for the combat-proven Patriot is an important milestone toward Poland ensuring it has the means to defend itself from the advanced and evolving threat of ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones," a company spokesperson said.

"Raytheon will work closely with industry and continue supporting the US and Polish governments through the foreign military sales process to assist Poland in becoming the next NATO Patriot country and the newest Patriot member of the rapidly growing Patriot partnership."

As Bill Schmieder, president of Raytheon International Europe, noted during the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) press conference into the signing of the LOR, the Patriot has seen action with five nations (it is in service with 13 nations worldwide) and has intercepted more than 100 tactical ballistic missiles during combat operations.

Poland's minister of national defence, Antoni Macierewicz, had previously announced that the country intended to buy eight Patriot batteries for its Wisla 'Shield of Poland' requirement, with the first two to be delivered as soon as 2019.Although not yet a done deal, Raytheon has had to see off competition from both the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) International consortium of Lockheed Martin and MBDA, as well as the Eurosam consortium of Thales and MBDA to secure the Polish Wisla requirement.

Poland has been considering the MEADS system for the Wisla programme for some time, and officials witnessed the second flight test of the MEADS system at the White Sands Missile Range in the United States in November 2013.

As recently as January, MEADS International submitted an updated bid to Poland, in which it said it was looking to involve Polish industry in about 40% of the workshare for the system. In addition, the MEADS consortium was still offering Poland a 33% stake, while Eurosam offered its Sol-Air Moyenne Portée/Terrestre (SAMP/T) system.

The Polish Wisla battle is part of an ongoing war between Raytheon and MEADS International to secure Europe's ground-based air/missile defence requirements. While MEADS International tried to muscle in on Raytheon's 'turf' in Poland, Raytheon has done the same to MEADS International in Germany, pushing the German government to reconsider its decision to adopt the MEADS for its Tactical Air Defence System (TLVS - Taktische Luftverteidigungssystem) requirement in favour of its own Patriot system.

Germany decided in June 2015 to buy the MEADS for its TLVS tactical air defence requirement. The final development and actual procurement is expected to come at the cost of an additional EUR3-4 billion for the Bundeswehr, with between 8-10 batteries to be procured in total.

With the programme already behind schedule, Raytheon revealed in June 2016 that it was in discussions with the German government to potentially resubmit its Patriot should the MEADS fail to meet any of the milestones that had been mandated before the award of a development contract.

These milestones included demonstrating a fully-hemispherical 360° coverage; an open architecture to 'plug and fight'; increased mobility, especially in terms of air transportation by the air force's A400M airlifter; as well as reduced manpower levels and life-cycle costs.

The German government is expected to sign-off on these milestones later in April but with national elections due in September it could be that a decision is not announced until late 2017 or early 2018.

With the Patriot system already in German service in its analogue Configuration 2 format, Raytheon said it could perform an upgrade to the latest digital Configuration 3+ format; incorporate all of the MEADS components that are already compatible with Patriot, such as the Diehl IRIS-T SL missile; and develop any further TLVS-specific updates that would be required. The TLVS system is expected to become operational from about 2025.

 

[bring_it_on]

No PAC-2's..Would be interesting to see if this begins to be a trend in future Patriot modernization or new orders. Could lend more credibility to Lockheed's pitch to go for a clean sheet competition for the new Patriot radar. Perhaps also a signal that they need to upgrade if they want to stay in the Patriot-interceptor business beyond the Stunner. Perhaps an active seeker leveraging their work on the SM6 or ESSM..

Poland poised to buy Patriot, months of negotiations ahead

Poland has also decided not to procure Raytheon’s Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) missiles but will focus on buying, and hopefully producing in country, a large number of low-cost interceptors called SkyCeptor missiles.

The U.S. government has authorized Raytheon to integrate SkyCeptor, a variant of the jointly developed Israel and U.S. Stunner interceptor, for Poland’s system.

Poland also plans to procure a smaller number of the more expensive Lockheed Martin-made Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhanced (PAC-3 MSE) missiles as well.

The Polish government particularly wants to establish a robust manufacturing outfit to make SkyCeptor missiles that would not only serve the Poles but could be built for export.

 

[marauder2048]

Could lend more credibility to Lockheed's pitch to go for a clean sheet competition for the new Patriot radar.

I just hope the LTAMDS image in the most recent AUSA 2017 AMD slide is a placeholder with
no loss of generality.

But broadly speaking, Poland's acquisition strategy is mirroring the one outlined at AUSA.

On the big missile front, the ongoing effort to integrate an active RF seeker on the SM-2 IIIB
along with the dual pulse rocket motor and Supersonic Split-Line (SSSL) TVA efforts for
Standard do provide a basis for a new upper-tier interceptor.

 

[bobbymike]

Could lend more credibility to Lockheed's pitch to go for a clean sheet competition for the new Patriot radar.

I just hope the LTAMDS image in the most recent AUSA 2017 AMD slide is a placeholder with
no loss of generality.

But broadly speaking, Poland's acquisition strategy is mirroring the one outlined at AUSA.

On the big missile front, the ongoing effort to integrate an active RF seeker on the SM-2 IIIB
along with the dual pulse rocket motor and Supersonic Split-Line (SSSL) TVA efforts for
Standard do provide a basis for a new upper-tier interceptor.

You have the full presentation?

 

[marauder2048]

AUSA 2017 AMD Hot Topic
Col. Dusty O'Neill

 

[bring_it_on]

Raytheon no doubt is in an extremely advantageous position vis-a-vis the LTADMS sensor given that they apparently have a customer for their GaN AESA upgrade and are likely to find more (Saudi's should be a safe bet). They are promising 50% Increase in range and half the O&S cost of the Configuration 3 sensor (with digital upgrades). I guess they've given up on a Surveilance sensor as a backup and will operate Sentinel A4s for extended coverage. IBCS really opens up the OTH targeting option and a new 'big missile' could well be in the pipeline.

 

[bring_it_on]

Patriot for Sweden?? It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect them to have a look at IBCS as a means to integrate their own radars into the network.

Poland intends to nearly 70 billion on a new air defense system. Sweden looks on the same system and the Swedish politicians must decide soon if they are to meet the goal of having a new air defense system in place by 2020.
The Polish government has agreed with the US defense company Raytheon to buy the Patriot air defense system. The tours have been many around the store but at a press conference on Friday declared Poland's Defense Minister, Antoni Macierewic, they now expect a completed agreement by the end of the year.

Poland aims when buying eight Patriot system and runaway costs against 7.6 billion dollars (67 billion). For that you get a system that will protect both Polish cities and key military facilities, air bases, from attacks by cruise missiles, enemy aircraft, drones and ballistic missiles.

Raytheon emphasizes that it is a proven system that has its roots in the 1980s and is now used by the United States and twelve other countries. It has also been tested in battle many times and have been since the beginning of 2015 shot down more than 100 enemy missiles.Now, the deal is not done just for the Polish government and Raytheon agree. The wait long negotiations, especially on the counter-trade business Poland want. The deal must also be approved by the US Congress, and during this time there is great room for competitors to make new attempts.

The Polish decision could have repercussions even in Sweden. Even here there is a great need to renew the medium-range air defense that has its roots in the 1960s and now provides for poor protection.Now, the deal is not done just for the Polish government and Raytheon agree. The wait long negotiations, especially on the counter-trade business Poland want. The deal must also be approved by the US Congress, and during this time there is great room for competitors to make new attempts.

The Polish decision could have repercussions even in Sweden. Even here there is a great need to renew the medium-range air defense that has its roots in the 1960s and now provides for poor protection.Swedish politicians have also agreed that something must be done quickly, and then there are really only two systems to choose from; SAMP / T from a group of European companies or Patriot from Raytheon. It will be a multi-billion dollar business even if Sweden does not buy an equal system Poland.For Sweden to reach the goal of having the first parts of the system in place in 2020 requires a political decision very soon. Poland promised to get its system within two years after all approvals are complete.

Poland's decision to buy the Patriot is only part of the major renovation that the country is now doing. Poland is one of the few NATO countries that reach the target to invest of at least 2 percent of GDP on defense.

But the needs are too great and there are estimates from the military indicating that two-thirds of the stock is so old that it was on the Warsaw Pact era.

As part of the renewal will be Poland including buy three new submarines and where the Government expects a decision before the end of the year. Swedish Saab Kockums are in the fray and offer a version of the A26, the new submarine, the company now is producing two copies of the Swedish defense.

But the competition is fierce and even German and French manufacturers would like to sell its submarines to Poland. A year ago, dropped Saab otherwise a potentially important business, when Norway first said no to the company's submarine and then decided to buy their new submarines from the German Thyssen Krupp instead.

 

[bring_it_on]

Since it was once considered as a LTAMDS sensor (AOA) and is going to be an export cleared sensor

Northrop Grumman delivers first G/ATOR LRIP system to USMC

The US Marine Corps (USMC) took delivery on 29 March of the first of six production Ground/Air Task Oriented Radars (G/ATOR) that are set to be delivered in 2017.

Three of the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) systems are undergoing integration, post-production and acceptance testing at Northrop Grumman's facility near Baltimore, Maryland. Another system is currently being built at the company's plant.

The first two S-band G/ATOR Block I systems will be delivered to the USMC aviation combat element (ACE) in February 2018. The remaining four will be delivered to the ground combat element (GCE) in August 2018, Karlovich said.

The marines have ordered 45 systems, which includes the Radar Equipment Group; the Power Equipment Group (PEG); and the Communications Equipment Group (CEG). The PEG, which is mounted on a 7-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) truck, carries a generator to provide 60 kW of power to run the radar. The MTVR is also used to tow the radar on the battlefield and carry spare parts. A HMMWV carries the CEG, which includes the command-and-control systems. An entire G/ATOR system can be carried on a naval roll-on/roll-off transport ship or by a C-130 aircraft, and deployed forward by a CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter or V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

Of the total of 45 systems, 17 are for the Marine Corps ACEs and 28 are for the GCEs. Full Operational Capability is slated for 2024. That is when the marines would field the last of the G/ATOR systems, John Karlovich, programme manager for G/ATOR said at an event marking the roll-out of the system.

The first six systems are being built using Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) transmit and receive modules in the radar. At the same time as it is taking delivery of GaAs systems, the corps is working to transition G/ATOR from GaAs to Gallium Nitride (GaN)

The more advanced GaN semiconductors will enhance operational performance and reliability, increase thermal margin, and reduce recurring costs. The first GaN based radars will be delivered to the marines in 2018 followed by an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2019.

Additionally, the Marine Corps will not undertake a formal Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) of G/ATOR until they take delivery of the GaN systems. IOT&E will start in the last quarter of calendar year 2018 to support a full rate production decision in 2019, Karlovich told Jane's in late February...

 

[fredymac]

GATOR radar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GELEYmKnms

 

[seruriermarshal]

Saudi forces shoot down 4 Houthi ballistic missiles

RIYADH: Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted four ballistic missiles launched by Houthi insurgents in Yemen toward the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushayt and Abha early Tuesday, the Saudi-led Arab Coalition said.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Coalition command said the missiles were shot down and destroyed at 6:30 a.m. without causing any damage.
A short video shared on social media showed Saudi Patriot missiles intercepting the Houthi missiles.

As a further counter-measure, Coalition air forces immediately targeted the launching sites in Yemen, the statement said.
It said the continued targeting by Houthi insurgents of Saudi cities with ballistic missiles “is the largest evidence of continuing smuggling of weapons to Yemen by all ways and means, especially from the port of Hodeidah.”
Coalition forces and the US Navy have separately intercepted Iranian weapons being sent to Houthis in the past two years.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Iran of fomenting unrest in the Middle East.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1075501/saudi-arabia

 

[bring_it_on]

Army's $7B IAMD program flunks major test, plans do-over in hopes of production transition


The Army is planning a do-over operational test for the $7 billion Integrated Air and Missile Defense program after the Limited User Test conducted last year did not produce results sufficient to support a production decision, triggering a further delay in the Northrop Grumman-led project to build an integrated fire-control network to better shield ground forces from air and missile threats.

The IAMD project office scrapped plans for a milestone C review slated for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 -- between January and March -- and now plans to conduct a second Limited User Test before asking to transition the program from engineering and manufacturing development into low-rate initial production, according to an Army spokesman.

"The Army has finished assessing the results of the Limited User Test (LUT) conducted in the third quarter of fiscal 2016," Dan O'Boyle, a spokesman for the IAMD program office at Redstone Arsenal, AL, said in a April 7 statement. "The Army is currently planning a second LUT prior to a milestone C decision."

The IAMD project office originally planned to transition to low-rate initial production last August. Last summer, the project was still awaiting the Operational Material Assessment Report -- a finding that would inform readiness of the program to proceed with production -- and delayed the review until early 2017. The baseline IAMD program calls for the project to transition to production no later than this August to avoid a formal schedule breach.

In January, the Pentagon's top weapons tester reported to Congress and the defense secretary dismal results of the IAMD testing in 2016. The LUT -- conducted March through May at White Sands Missile Range, NM -- included sustained operations to assess reliability, two missile flight tests, and hardware-in-the-loop events to assess effectiveness and suitability.

"Despite DOT&E's concerns that IAMD is an immature system and not ready for a milestone C decision, the Army elected to proceed with the LUT as an operational test," the Pentagon's then-top weapons tester, J. Michael Gilmore, wrote.

"Due to [Army]IAMD software immaturity and limited capability to effectively operate at a much-echelon level, soldiers were unable to effectively coordinate with engagement and identification authorities, a key function in air defense," Gilmore found.

The IAMD system is required to demonstrate a 90 percent likelihood of operating for 72 hours without a failure that results in a system abort; during the LUT the system clocked just a 6 percent likelihood of working for three days straight without failure, according to the DOT&E report.

Software immaturity tripped up the Engagement Operations Center -- a "critical" IAMD subsystem -- during the LUT which demonstrated the ability to operate on average 16 hours without a failure, far below the minimum requirement of 446 hours, according to the weapons tester.

"The computer workstations in the EOC were not reliable and a constant source of frustration for operators," Gilmore wrote. "Due to IBCS software immaturity, workstations lagged and froze during mission operations, significantly affecting crew operations and mission execution."

Another problem was IAMD's inability to operate on Link 16 -- a key tactical data-exchange network -- and "significant problems with dual tracks and reporting responsibility with the IBCS network."

Since the LUT, the Army says the program has shown progress.

"The Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) program has since taken delivery of two IAMD Battle Command System (IBCS) software builds that have demonstrated marked improvement over the LUT software," said O'Boyle.

The service plans to spend a total of $2.5 billion on development and $4.4 billion on procurement to buy 16 fully configured systems for development and 427 IAMD Battle Command Systems for operational use.

"The AIAMD program is being developed to network sensors, weapons and a common battle management system across an integrated fire control network to support engagement of air and missile threats," the Army spokesman said. "As such, the system is software intensive, with project managers focusing on the software before providing the weapon system's capability to the warfighter."

In development since 2009, the Army aims to use the IAMD program to pivot from traditional system-centric weapon systems acquisition toward a component-based acquisition. When complete, the Army expects IAMD to provide a full, network-centric, "plug-and-fight" integration of existing and future air and missile defense forces and systems.

IAMD aims to integrate capabilities such as the Sentinel radar and Patriot air-defense launchers through a new interface that provides battle management data and allows networked operations.

The IAMD program office is responsible for the Army's portion of a joint integrated air and missile defense "system-of-systems" capability, and is focused on developing and fielding the IAMD Battle Command System. Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are major subcontractors on the IAMD program.

 

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We have a (re) winner!

May 11, 2017

Raytheon Co. - Integrated Defense Systems, Woburn, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $52,686,179 fixed-price-incentive-firm engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract for Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) System. Contractor will provide EMD of three 3DELRR production representative units. Work will be performed at Andover, Massachusetts, and is expected to be complete by Nov. 30, 2020. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with two offers received. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $5,500,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-17-C-0018).