US-Japan $1.2B RQ-4 Global Hawk Deal Finalized

The US Department of State has approved a potential sale of three Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned surveillance systems to Japan.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible foreign military sale on Nov. 19, according to a DSCA statement.

The deal for three Block 30 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft, including three Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suites and 16 navigation systems, is worth up to US $1.2 billion.

Japan has been focused on building up its surveillance assets in the region as neighboring China has become increasingly aggressive. Japan's Ministry of Defense officially decided to procure the Global Hawk, as well as Boeing's V-22 Osprey and Northrop's E-2D Hawkeye command and control aircraft, in 2014.

Japan chose the Global Hawk over the Guardian ER design by General Atomics for the country's Air Self Defense Force.

"The proposed sale of the RQ-4 will significantly enhance Japan's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and help ensure that Japan is able to continue to monitor and deter regional threats," according to the statement. "The Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) will have no difficulty absorbing these systems into its armed forces."

In the statement, DSCA touted the sale as strengthening the US-Japanese alliance at a time of growing tensions over China's moves in the South China Sea.

"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States," the statement reads. "Japan is one of the major political and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key partner of the United States in ensuring regional peace and stability."

TAI Gozcu: Turkish Observer Drone

TAI Gozcu is a short-range tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition Unmanned Aerial System. 

Details regarding this UAS are as:

Manufacturer: TAI-TUSAS Aerospace Industries Inc.
Powerplant: 1x Wankel 38hp engine.
Dimensions: length: 2.45m, height: 0.66m, wingspan: 3.75m. 
Weight: MTOW 85kg, max payload 8kg.
Performance: speed 100kt, endurance > 2hr, ceiling up to 12,000ft. 
Payload: two-axis gimbaled EO/IR camera.
Data Link: real-time telemetry and video.
Guidance/Tracking: fully autonomous, GPS integrated waypoint navigation.
Launch: catapult launcher. 
Recovery: parachute or skid.
Structure Material: delta wing, v-tail, all-composite airframe.
Electrical Power: rechargeable battery pack.
Status: in production.

Whos gonna counter your rockets, artillery and mortars in the sky

AI3 is designed to protect warfighters by intercepting rockets and other threats in flight.

 

AI3 will enhance protection of warfighters from rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

 

An AI3 interceptor missile is fired from an Avenger-based launcher in a recent test.

 

Raytheon designed the AI3 system to meet cost requirements to provide an affordable solution to the warfighter.

Experiments of Raytheon AI3 missile interception system successfully intercepts first cruise missile target

Raytheon Company and the U.S. Army achieved the first intercept of a cruise missile by the Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative missile. An AI3 missile also destroyed an unmanned aerial system (UAS). Both intercepts occurred during the recent Black Dart demonstration - a U.S. military exercise held July 29 - August 11. 

 

Raytheon Company Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative missile/AI3 missile for U. S. Army

Fired from the Avenger launcher, AI3 missiles intercepted both targets at low altitude over water and in a high-clutter marine environment - capabilities made possible by upgrades to the missile's semi-active seeker and radar. The ability to defeat UAS and cruise missile threats is the key requirement of the U.S. Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Block 1. IFPC is a mobile, ground-based weapon system designed to acquire, track, engage and defeat UAS, cruise missiles, rockets, artillery and mortars.

"Raytheon's AI3 missile is breaking new ground with its destruction of these challenging targets that are real threats to today's warfighter," said Dr. Thomas R. Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president. "We've developed a missile that integrates easily into the Army's existing systems. It's affordable, the risk is low and we can get it in the field soon."

Earlier this year, in preparation for the Black Dart event, AI3 missiles destroyed a 240 mm rocket and a UAS at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.

"Black Dart was the ideal venue for us to demonstrate AI3's expanded capabilities and to showcase the missile as a low-cost, complimentary interceptor for IFPC Block 1," added Bussing.

About AI3 In 2012-13, Raytheon developed and successfully tested a system, also called AI3, to counter rockets, artillery and mortars (C-RAM). The system included the AI3 missile as its centerpiece, plus fire control radar, command and control node and launcher. In Sept. 2013, the AI3 system destroyed 22 of 24 threats, including 107mm rocket targets at various quadrant elevations, as well as mortars, an unmanned aircraft system and improvised rocket-assisted mortars. Raytheon developed the AI3 system in just over 18 months to meet a Department of Defense urgent need, and demonstrated that it also meets IFPC Block 2 requirements for C-RAM.

About Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 92 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.

Raytheon Company Missile Systems Tucson, Ariz.

 

Source: Online Portal