Tag Archives: BAE Systems

Navy

Successor Submarine

The United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems £201 million to further the design of a successor to the Royal Navy’s Vanguard class submarines. The funding will allow the business to mature the design of the new class of submarines, which will carry the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent, including the layout of equipment and systems, and to develop manufacturing processes.

BAE Systems awarded £201 million to further Successor Submarine design
BAE Systems awarded £201 million to further Successor Submarine design

Tony Johns, the Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines, said: «We are incredibly proud of the role we play in designing and building our nation’s submarines. The Successor programme is one of the most challenging engineering projects in the world today and this additional funding will enable us to further mature the design».

BAE Systems is the industrial lead on the programme with more than 1,600 employees working on it, alongside colleagues from the MoD, Rolls Royce and Babcock, many of whom are based at the Company’s site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Today’s (10 February, 2016) announcement follows three previous funding packages awarded to BAE Systems – two awards of £328 million and £315 million to commence initial design in 2012, followed by £257 million in 2015 for the detailed design.

Approximately 7,700 people are employed by BAE Systems Submarines with the majority at its site in Barrow, where submarines have been built for the Royal Navy for more than a century. The Company is also building the Astute class – seven state-of-the-art nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Subject to the Government’s approval to progress to the construction phase, it is estimated BAE Systems will employ between 5,000 and 6,000 people on the Successor programme at its peak, with a total of 9,000 employed across BAE Systems’ submarines business. The Company spends approximately £300 million annually across its submarine supply chain and this number is expected to increase throughout the life of the Successor programme.

In readiness for the start of construction of Successor, more than £300 million is being invested into BAE Systems’ Barrow site to transform its submarine building capabilities. This will include brand new, state-of-the-art facilities as well as the refurbishment of existing buildings.

Air Force

Enhancements
for Typhoon

The latest enhancements for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet have been successfully tested by UK Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots in flight trials conducted at BAE Systems’ Military Air & Information business in Warton, Lancashire. An early version of the Phase 2 Enhancement (P2Ea) Typhoon was flown by pilots from the RAF’s Test and Evaluation Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby.

Pilots from the RAF’s Test and Evaluation Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby, have test-flown an early version of the Typhoon P2Ea package, incorporating improvements such as upgrades to the radar, defensive aids systems and targeting pods (BAE photo)
Pilots from the RAF’s Test and Evaluation Squadron, based at RAF Coningsby, have test-flown an early version of the Typhoon P2Ea package, incorporating improvements such as upgrades to the radar, defensive aids systems and targeting pods (BAE photo)

The P2Ea package incorporates software and avionics improvements such as upgrades to the radar, defensive aids systems and targeting pods. These enhancements will not only increase threat awareness and pilot safety, but also improve Typhoon’s targeting capabilities. P2Ea forms part of the full Phase 2 Enhancement (P2E) package for Typhoon.

Testing of the package will be ongoing throughout 2016 with weapons integration tests also scheduled for this year.

Wing Commander Steven Berry, Officer Commanding 41(R) Test and Evaluation Squadron, said: «The P2Ea upgrade brings some major capability changes and some welcome tweaks to the existing capabilities. The enhancements mean as an air-to-surface platform, Typhoon has the simplicity and flexibility in the design to be easily employed in close air support missions or more complex scenarios like convoy over-watch. By 2019, Typhoon will be filling a lot of roles including air defence of the UK, offensive and defensive counter-air, stand-off attack and close air support. That’s a lot of skills for a front line squadron to master. Typhoon needs to deliver all of that capability in a simple, reliable cockpit».

41(R) Squadron TES (Test and Evaluation Squadron) conducted two tests on an early version of the P2Ea – a typical air-to-air exercise and an air-to-surface exercise targeting simulated targets. The feedback from these tests has been assessed and will now be used to influence the final design.

Andy Flynn, Head of Capability Delivery Programmes for Combat Air at BAE Systems, said: «Working with the customer test teams at this stage provides us with invaluable feedback that we can assess and directly work back into the design process. This combined testing approach is a fundamental part of how we are improving the way we do business. It allows the customer to fly capability improvements at an early stage and provide feedback to ensure the upgrades are exactly what they need».

P2Ea is a stepping stone along the path of the RAF’s Project CENTURION designed to ensure a seamless transition between Typhoon and Tornado’s capabilities when Tornado goes out of service in 2019.

The full P2E upgrade for the RAF will include the integration of the MBDA Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile. The next phase of enhancements, P3E, will bring the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile and MBDA Brimstone 2 close air support weapon into service on Typhoon for the UK. Both P2E and P3E will be delivered through Project CENTURION.

Eurofighter Typhoon provides a diverse range of options for all Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface operations
Eurofighter Typhoon provides a diverse range of options for all Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface operations

 

General characteristics

DIMENSIONS
Wingspan 35 feet 11 inch/10.95 m
Length overall 52 feet 4 inch/15.96 m
Height 17 feet 4 inch/5.28 m
Wing Area 551.1 feet2/51.2 m2
MASS
Basic Mass Empty 24,250 lbs/11,000 kg
Maximum Take-Off >51,809 lbs/23,500 kg
Maximum External Load >16,535 lbs/7,500 kg
DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS
Single seat twin-engine, with a two-seat variant
Weapon Carriage 13 Hardpoints
G’ limits +9/-3 ‘g’
Engines Two Eurojet EJ200 reheated turbofans
Maximum dry thrust class 13,500 lbs/6,124 kgf/60 kN
Maximum reheat thrust class 20,000 lbs/9,072 kgf/90 kN
GENERAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
Ceiling >55,000 feet/16,764 m
Brakes off to 35,000 feet(10,668 m)/Mach 1.5 <2.5 minutes
Brakes off to lift off <8 seconds
At low level, 200 knots/230 mph/370 km/h to Mach 1.0 in 30 seconds
Maximum Speed Mach 2.0
Operational Runway Length <2,297 feet/700 m
MATERIALS
Carbon Fibre Composites (CFC) 70%
Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) 12%
Aluminium Alloy, Titanium Alloy 15%
Acrylic (Röhm 249) 3%
OPERATORS
United Kingdom 232 Aircraft
Germany 180 Aircraft
Italy 121 Aircraft
Spain 87 Aircraft
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 72 Aircraft
Austria 15 Aircraft
Sultanate of Oman 12 Aircraft
Kuwait 28 Aircraft
Total 747 Aircraft
Each aspect of the Eurofighter Typhoon is designed to provide a balanced contribution to the overall effectiveness of the weapon system
Each aspect of the Eurofighter Typhoon is designed to provide a balanced contribution to the overall effectiveness of the weapon system
Navy

Nulka was fired

The Nulka active missile decoy has been successfully fired from a U.S. Navy CVN Class aircraft carrier for the first time. On December 16, 2015, the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) completed the first successful carrier launch of the Mk-234 Nulka countermeasure fired from the Mk-53 Decoy Launching System (DLS).

Nulka is an Australian Aboriginal word meaning to «be quick»
Nulka is an Australian Aboriginal word meaning to «be quick»

Five successful decoy launches took place over three days. Two of BAE Systems Australia’s employees were also on-board to support the trial. While Nulka has been used by smaller U.S. naval vessels for years, it had never been fired from a ship as large as an aircraft carrier before. The successful firings also expand our Company’s presence on U.S. Navy major ships.

 

Nulka

The Nulka active missile decoy is the most sophisticated soft-kill defence system against anti-ship missiles available for the protection of surface warships. It is currently deployed on over 150 Australian, U.S. and Canadian warships.

The Nulka system is the result of a collaborative development between Australia and the U.S., and brings together advanced flight vehicle guidance and control techniques, and sophisticated RF electronic technologies. Fully autonomous after launch, the unique flight vehicle design allows the decoy’s flight-path to be maintained with a high degree of precision over a wide range of environmental conditions, resulting in extremely high levels of mission effectiveness against modern anti-ship missiles.

The thrust vector controlled solid fuel rocket motor provides rapid response against detected threats, while the extended decoy flight duration supports the engagement of multiple threats. Accurate control of the flight vehicle allows for optimal positioning of the decoy, independent of ship manoeuvre, and minimises the likelihood of collateral damage to friendly forces.

Nulka is an integral element of a comprehensive, integrated layered defence system, and its unique capabilities complement conventional hard-kill missile and gun systems.

Nulka has been integrated with Arleigh Burke DDG, Ticonderoga CG, Oliver Hazard Perry FFG (Australian Adelaide Class FFG), San Antonio LPD, Whidbey Island LPD, Bertholf, ANZAC FFH and Iroquois DDG class ships. All U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers equipped with AEGIS have Nulka included in their layered defense system. Future installations are planned for the Royal Australian Navy’s Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) and Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD).

BAE Systems Australia is the Nulka prime contractor and System Design Agent. Lockheed Martin Inc. (USA) is the Design Agent for the electronic warfare payload. Aerojet Inc. (USA) manufacture the rocket motor. BAE Systems manufactures the flight control hardware at their manufacturing facility in Edinburgh Parks (SA), and assembles and tests the completed Nulka Round at their Nulka Round Assembly Facility in Mulwala (NSW).

Nulka is Australia’s largest regular defence export program and pre-planned product improvement activities are ongoing to enhance the performance of the system.

When launched, the Nulka decoy radiates a large, ship-like radar cross section that attempts to lure ASMs away from their intended targets
When launched, the Nulka decoy radiates a large, ship-like radar cross section that attempts to lure ASMs away from their intended targets
Air Force

For US C-130J fleet

BAE Systems has been selected by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to develop a new electronic warfare system for the fleet of C-130J aircraft. The contract, worth more than $20 million, is the first phase of a multi-phase program to upgrade aircraft system survivability and the capability to detect, identify, locate, deny, degrade, disrupt and defeat threat systems in operational significant environments. The life cycle value of the contract is expected to exceed $400 million.

Designed to be integrated into both the MC-130J Commando II and the AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft, the RFCM system will support the varied and critical missions of Special Operation Forces
Designed to be integrated into both the MC-130J Commando II and the AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft, the RFCM system will support the varied and critical missions of Special Operation Forces

The Radio Frequency CounterMeasure (RFCM) system offers fully integrated, precision geo-location, and radio frequency countermeasure capabilities. The advanced system will significantly enhance the electronic threat protection capability of the C-130J, increasing the aircraft’s ability to detect and defeat both surface and airborne threats in signal-dense and highly contested environments.

«This award is a significant milestone as it not only builds on our strong electronic warfare legacy, but also extends our proven electronic warfare capability to a large platform aircraft», said Brian Walters, vice president and general manager of Electronic Combat Solutions at BAE Systems. «Our all-digital RFCM system will ensure the mission-critical C-130J fleet remains capable and protected in the harshest environments».

Designed to be integrated into both the MC-130J Commando II and the AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft, the RFCM system will support the varied and critical missions of Special Operation Forces. These missions include the use of C-130Js for armed over-watch and refueling of helicopters in denied territories, and for close air support and interdiction missions in the most sensitive and hostile of territories.

Under the terms of the contract, BAE Systems will provide product development and platform integration work over the next 12 months.

Ground Forces

Assault Amphibious

BAE Systems has been awarded an $82 million contract to modernize and deliver 23 upgraded Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAV7A1) for the Brazilian Marine Corps. The vehicles, which will be the Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (RAM/RS) variant, will significantly enhance the current capabilities of the Brazilian Marine Corps.

At sea, a 400 hp turbocharged diesel V-8 engine with propulsion enabled by two 14,000 gpm water jet pumps provides AAV7A1 vehicles with a cruising speed of 7 knots and the ability to negotiate 10-foot plunging surfs heading either seaward or to shore
At sea, a 400 hp turbocharged diesel V-8 engine with propulsion enabled by two 14,000 gpm water jet pumps provides AAV7A1 vehicles with a cruising speed of 7 knots and the ability to negotiate 10-foot plunging surfs heading either seaward or to shore

«These new vehicles will have major capability enhancements, which will give the Brazilian military an amphibious vehicle with improved speed and reliability beyond the current configuration», said Deepak Bazaz, director of new and amphibious vehicles at BAE Systems. «We have a strong track record of supporting the Brazilian military and will continue that close working relationship throughout this program».

Under the terms of the contract, BAE Systems will provide 23 AAV7A1 RAM/RS vehicles and supply all tools and test equipment to support vehicle maintenance. The company will also provide an initial sustainment capability to the Brazilian Marine Corps to include spare parts and field service support, as well as training for the vehicle users.

The AAV7A1 RAM/RS variant provides a more powerful engine and drive train, as well as an upgraded suspension system, allowing the vehicles to meet or exceed original AAV7A1 performance requirements. The RAM/RS variant also provides improved mobility and repair capabilities while transporting troops and cargo from ships.

Work on the contract will take place at BAE Systems’ York, Pennsylvania facility. Production is anticipated to start in June with vehicle deliveries beginning in February 2017. Final delivery to Brazil is expected to take place by the end of 2017, when the training and support for these vehicles will begin.

«BAE Systems has served the Brazilian military for more than 15 years and is also working on other vehicle enhancement programs here, such as the Brazilian Army’s upgrade of its M113B vehicles to the M113A2 Mk1 configuration», said Marco Caffe, the company’s general manager for Brazil. «In the fall of 2015, we completed our 150th M113 upgrade».

On land, the proven torsion bar suspension and BAE Systems signature «Big Foot» track makes for outstanding mobility on all terrains at a top speed of 45 mph
On land, the proven torsion bar suspension and BAE Systems signature «Big Foot» track makes for outstanding mobility on all terrains at a top speed of 45 mph

 

Specifications

Crew Three plus 21 combat troops
Engine 400 hp/298 kW
Armament .50 cal/12.7-mm M2HB/40-mm MG (Mk-19)
Cruising speed
Land 20-30 mph/32-48 km/h
maximum 45 mph/72 km/h
Water 8 mph/13 km/h
Cruising range
Land 200+ miles/321 km
Water 7+ hours
Slope (longitudinal) 60%
Side slope 40%
Trench crossing 96 inch/2.4 m
Vertical wall crossing 36 inch/0.9 m
Surf 120 inch/3.0 m
Overall length 321 inch/8.1 m
Width
With armor 144 inch/3.6 m
Without armor 129 inch/3.2 m
Height 130 inch/3.3 m

 

Navy

Third Astute sub

The third of the new Astute Class attack submarines, Artful, has officially been handed over to the Royal Navy. Until now the submarine was owned by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the MOD’s body responsible for procuring and supporting equipment for the Armed Forces. The boat and her crew will now be added to the Royal Navy Fleet alongside the Navy’s other units.

HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Astute Class attack submarines has arrived at her Scottish base port from where she will carry out sea trials before entering service
HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Astute Class attack submarines has arrived at her Scottish base port from where she will carry out sea trials before entering service

Defence Minister Philip Dunne said: «The handover of Artful to the Royal Navy is another major step in the Astute Class submarine programme, which continues to gather pace. These attack submarines will provide the Royal Navy with the most technologically advanced submarine Britain has ever sent to sea and will be a vital part of UK security for decades to come. They are being funded by our growing Defence budget and our £178 billion investment in equipment, which is delivering the very best possible kit to our Armed Forces».

Following her hand over on Thursday 10 December, the next milestone for the boat will be an official commissioning ceremony in March 2016, where her sponsor, Lady Amanda Zambellas, will formally welcome Artful into the fleet in the home of the UK Submarine Service, HM Naval Base Clyde. Lady Zambellas said: «This is a really important milestone in the life of Artful as she takes her place in the Fleet under the White Ensign. I am extremely proud of my association with the submarine and look forward to her commissioning next year when I will also meet the Ship’s Company that will take her on operations around the world».

Since her arrival on the Clyde in August, Artful has continued her programme of Contractor Sea Trials. Most recently Rear Admiral Submarines John Weale became the first officer to be officially piped onboard the Royal Navy’s newest warship, and there was a change of command from Captain Scott Bower to Commander Stuart Armstrong. «I very much welcome Artful’s firepower, state of the art communications equipment and advanced stealth technologies into the fleet», said Rear Admiral Weale, head of the UK Submarine Service.

Artful is one of seven Astute class submarines being built for the Royal Navy by BAE Systems Marine Services (BAES(MS)) in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, which are progressively replacing the Trafalgar Class submarines. HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, and now Artful, are the first of the Class to be accepted by Navy Command, which is responsible for operating all of the Royal Navy’s vessels.

Rear Admiral Mike Wareham, Director Submarines Acquisition at DE&S, the MOD’s procurement organisation, said: «The handover of Artful to the Royal Navy is a proud moment for DE&S reflecting a key milestone and a significant achievement in the Astute programme. It follows a number of sea trials which have successfully demonstrated the submarine’s capability and means she can now begin to prepare for operations with the Royal Navy».

The next two submarines in the Class, Audacious and Anson, are currently being built in Barrow, with Agamemnon and the unnamed Boat 7 to follow. BAE Systems is responsible for delivering all seven Astute Class submarines and for the design of the successor to the Vanguard class, which will carry the UK’s nuclear deterrent, also based at HM Naval Base Clyde.

She is due to be commissioned in March 2016, after completing her sea trials
She is due to be commissioned in March 2016, after completing her sea trials
Navy

Marine selected BAE

The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded BAE Systems’ team a contract worth $103.7 million for the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) phase of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 1.1 program. The company, along with teammate IVECO Defence Vehicles, will deliver a solution that will be built from the ground up to be an amphibious vehicle and will provide significant capability improvements to satisfy the Marine Corps’ current and future needs.

BAE Systems’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle 1.1 (BAE Systems photo)
BAE Systems’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle 1.1 (BAE Systems photo)

«We are proud to continue our long history of providing the Marine Corps with superior amphibious capabilities», said Deepak Bazaz, director of new and amphibious vehicles at BAE Systems. «Our vehicle was designed to be fully amphibious with exceptional ground mobility and protection. Our ACV solution will provide the Marine Corps with a mature, cost-effective solution with significant growth capacity».

The award is one of two EMD contracts issued. During this phase, BAE Systems will produce 16 prototypes that will be tested by the Marine Corps beginning in the third quarter of 2016. Work on the vehicles will take place at BAE Systems’ facilities in Quantico, Virginia; San Jose, California; and York, Pennsylvania.

The ACV 1.1 is not required to self-deploy from the well deck of an amphibious ship to the shore, since the Marine Corps decided to wait and introduce that requirement into ACV 1.2, which will also feature mission-based variants of the vehicle
The ACV 1.1 is not required to self-deploy from the well deck of an amphibious ship to the shore, since the Marine Corps decided to wait and introduce that requirement into ACV 1.2, which will also feature mission-based variants of the vehicle

BAE Systems’ ACV 1.1 solution is an advanced 8×8 open ocean-capable vehicle that is based on a platform developed by IVECO Defence Vehicles. It is equipped with a new 6-cylinder, 700HP power pack, which provides a significant power increase over the current Assault Amphibious Vehicle. The vehicle performs best in class mobility in all terrains and has a suspended interior seat structure for 13 embarked Marines, blast-mitigating positions for a crew of three, and improved survivability and force protection over currently fielded systems. The team has conducted extensive risk mitigation testing and evaluation for swim, land mobility, and survivability capabilities that have proven the solution’s capabilities.

BAE Systems has more than 70 years of experience designing and building amphibious vehicles and is a leading provider of combat vehicles, having produced more than 100,000 systems for customers worldwide. IVECO Defence Vehicles brings additional proven experience, having designed and built more than 30,000 multi-purpose, protected, and armored military vehicles in service today.

Part of the success of the program has been the streamlined transition from MPC to ACV 1.1 and eventually into 1.2
Part of the success of the program has been the streamlined transition from MPC to ACV 1.1 and eventually into 1.2
Navy

Fifth Astute submarine

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded us a contract for the delivery of the fifth Astute Class submarine, taking the total value for work on the vessel to £1.3 billion. The full contract covers the design and remaining build, test and commissioning activities on Anson (S123), the fifth of seven technologically advanced submarines in the class. Manufacturing commenced in 2010. Anson (S123) is now at an advanced stage of construction at our Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria site and on schedule to leave for sea trials in 2020.

£1.3 Bn Contract Awarded for Fifth Attack Submarine
£1.3 Bn Contract Awarded for Fifth Attack Submarine

Tony Johns, Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines, said: «Signing this contract is an important milestone in the Astute programme. This is a hugely complex national endeavour and we are proud of the role we play in helping to protect our nation’s interests. HMS Astute (S119) and HMS Ambush (S120) are already demonstrating their world-class capabilities with the Royal Navy, whilst the third submarine in the class, HMS Artful (S121), is continuing with her sea trials. The build phase for the fourth, Audacious, is also well advanced, so we continue to make positive progress across the programme».

The contract was announced by Philip Dunne MP, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, during a visit to our Company today. He said: «This £1.3 billion contract marks an important step in the progress of the Astute programme. This is a key part of our £166 billion plan to ensure that our armed forces have the equipment they need to defend the UK’s interests across the seas, in the skies and on land, both at home and abroad. This new contract for Anson not only provides significant financial savings of £50 million to the taxpayer but also secures thousands of jobs in Barrow and across the UK supply chain, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to increase defence spending each year for the rest of the decade».

We employ more than 7,600 people in our Submarines business, including those working on the Astute programme. Boat six Agamemnon and the yet-to-be named seventh are also under construction in Barrow. Astute class submarines mark a step change in defence capability. Powered by a nuclear reactor, each of the submarines will provide land strike, strategic intelligence-gathering, anti-submarine and surface ship warfare capabilities.

BAE Systems is also leading the design phase on the programme to replace the current fleet of Vanguard submarines, which carry the UK’s strategic national deterrent. In readiness for the start of construction on this programme, our site is undergoing significant redevelopment with new facilities to be built alongside the refurbishment of others.

HMS Artful (S121) – a 7,400 tonne, 97-meter long attack submarine
HMS Artful (S121) – a 7,400 tonne, 97-meter long attack submarine

 

  1. HMS Astute (S119)
  2. HMS Ambush (S120)
  3. HMS Artful (S121)
  4. Audacious (S122)
  5. Anson (S123)
  6. Agamemnon (S124)
  7. Ajax (S125)

 

Air Force

Storm Shadow

A Typhoon Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) has successfully completed a release of the MBDA Storm Shadow, conventionally armed, stealthy, long-range stand-off precision missile, Eurofighter GmbH has announced. This continues the series of trials that Eurofighter Partner Company, Alenia Aermacchi, is leading to demonstrate the full integration of the Storm Shadow missile with Typhoon’s weapon system.

After launch, the Storm Shadow/SCALP (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée) missile descends to a low cruising altitude powered by a turbojet engine
After launch, the Storm Shadow/SCALP (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée) missile descends to a low cruising altitude powered by a turbojet engine

With support from Eurofighter Partner Company BAE Systems, missile designer and producer MBDA, and specialist trials support from QinetiQ, the trials were conducted in November 2015 at Aberporth MoD firing range, in the UK.

The integration of the missile with the aircraft’s weapon system was successfully demonstrated. The trials also verified the interface of the missile with the weapon system for pre-launch checks, demonstrated post-launch safe separation and the subsequent commencement of missile flight.

Test pilot Enrico Scarabotto flew the sorties and he said: «The Eurofighter and its weapon system performed exactly as expected. The aircraft’s performance is not significantly degraded by this heavy missile and, thanks to the aircraft’s performance and the large number of weapon stations, after the launch of the missiles the Eurofighter keeps a full spectrum of capabilities for both air-to-air and air-to-surface engagements. This is a great advantage that only the Eurofighter, among western fighters, can guarantee. A truly swing-role combat aircraft».

Storm Shadow provides a significant leap in the Eurofighter Typhoon’s operational capabilities, enabling the platform to deploy multiple weapons at a very long range well clear of danger from air defences. Storm Shadow, already in service with the Italian Air Force, Royal Air Force and others, is a long-range weapon system designed to neutralise high value, hardened or buried targets.

The new weapons system will add the capability to strike in day or night in all-weather conditions, well-defended infrastructure targets such as port facilities, control centres, bunkers, missile sites, airfields and bridges that would otherwise require several aircraft and missions.

This is a new addition to the Eurofighter Typhoon’s potent simultaneous multi-role/swing-role capabilities. Powered by a turbo-jet engine, with a range in excess of 155 miles/250 km, the Storm Shadow missile weighs approximately 2,866 lbs/1,300 kg and is just over 16.7 feet/5.1 metres long.

The missile follows its pre-planned trajectory through continuous updates to its navigation system. This is supplied by the missile avionics, which incorporates an Inertial Measurement Unit, combined with both digital terrain profile matching and GPS
The missile follows its pre-planned trajectory through continuous updates to its navigation system. This is supplied by the missile avionics, which incorporates an Inertial Measurement Unit, combined with both digital terrain profile matching and GPS
Ground Forces

LRIP of the Paladin

The U.S. Army awarded BAE Systems a contract option worth $245.3 million to complete the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the M109A7 self-propelled howitzer and M992A3 ammunition carrier. «The success of this program is directly attributable to the partnership between the Army and BAE Systems», said Adam Zarfoss, director of Artillery and Bradley programs at BAE Systems. «We’ve worked as a team to bring this much needed enhanced combat capability to the soldier to address immediate needs while providing a platform that can support future growth as requirements evolve».

The M109A7 is considered to be the most cost-effective method to significantly improve sustainability and survivability, while reducing the logistics burden on the ABCT and supporting fires brigades
The M109A7 is considered to be the most cost-effective method to significantly improve sustainability and survivability, while reducing the logistics burden on the ABCT and supporting fires brigades

The M109A7 program is a significant upgrade over the vehicle’s predecessor, the M109A6 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer. It uses the existing main armament and cab structure of the M109A6, but replaces the vehicle’s chassis structure with a new design that increases survivability and allows for the integration of Bradley common drive-train and suspension components. Additionally, the system leverages technologies developed under the Crusader and Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon programs such as a 600-volt on-board power generation, distribution and management system, coupled with high-voltage gun drive and projectile ramming systems.

The state-of-the-art «digital-backbone» and power generation capability provides significant growth potential for future payloads as well as accommodating existing battlefield network requirements. The upgrades ensure commonality with the existing systems in the U.S. Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Team, including the BAE Systems-built Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.

BAE Systems was awarded a one-year base contract for the M109A7 in October 2013, and the first of two option year awards to produce an additional 18 vehicle sets in October 2014. The current exercise is for the second option year to produce an additional 30 sets. One set includes an M109A7 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer (SPH) along with its battlefield companion, the M992A3 Carrier Ammunition, Tracked. With all two options exercised, BAE Systems will deliver a total of 66 vehicle sets plus one additional SPH and associated kits, spares, and technical documentation to complete the LRIP phase. The U.S. Army has a total acquisition objective of 580 vehicle sets.

Work on the M109A7 is currently underway at Anniston Army Depot, Alabama and BAE Systems’ York, Pennsylvania, and Elgin, Oklahoma, facilities.

Extended range: 30 km/18.6 miles with High Explosive – Rocket Assisted Projectile (HE RAP) and M203 propellant
Extended range: 30 km/18.6 miles with High Explosive – Rocket Assisted Projectile (HE RAP) and M203 propellant

 

Specifications

Gross vehicle weight 80,000 lbs/36,288 kg
Crew 4
Engine 675 hp/503 kW
Fuel tank 143 gallons/541 liters
Speed 38 mph/61 km/h
Estimated cruising range 186 miles/300 km
Slope 60%
Side slope 40%
Trench crossing 72 inches/1.8 m
Maximum fording depth 42 inches/1.0 m
Overall length 382 inches/9.7 m
Width 154 inches/3.9 m
Height 129 inches/3.3 m
Howitzer/gun mount M284 cannon/M182A1 mount
Main generator 70 kW; 600 vdc/28 vdc
Reserve power >50%
Sustained rate of fire: 1 round/minute (dependent on thermal warning devices)
Sustained rate of fire: 1 round/minute (dependent on thermal warning devices)