Gripin’ in Switzerland: Referendum Shoots New Fighter Deal Down

by Joe Katzman | Apr 23, 2015 | Airbus, BAE, Boeing, Budgets, Contracts - Intent, Europe - Other, Fighters & Attack, Force Structure, France, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Project Successes, Specialty Aircraft, USA

Swiss F-5Es(click to view full) While F-5 owners like Brazil, Chile, Thailand, et. al. have opted for comprehensive refurbishment and upgrades, Switzerland is looking to replace 3 of its 5 Tiger II squadrons with new aircraft under its Tiger-Teilersatz TTE program....

Ring My Bell: New Helicopters for Canada’s Coast Guard

by Joe Katzman | Apr 13, 2015 | Airbus, Canada, Contracts - Intent, Finmeccanica, Helicopters & Rotary, Issues - Political, New Systems Tech, Policy - Procurement, Pre-RFP, RFPs, Scandals & Investigations, Support & Maintenance, Textron

CCG Bo-105(click to view full) In fall 2012, the Canadian government began planning in earnest to replace its current fleet of Coast Guard helicopters: 14 MBB Bo-105s and 3 Bell 206L LongRangers at the light end, supported by 6 Bell 212 twin-Hueys. The replacement buy...

New-Old Nukes: GBP 350M for Final Refit of UK’s Vanguard Nuclear Missile Subs

by Joe Katzman | Apr 9, 2015 | Britain/U.K., Contracts - Awards, Electronics - General, Engines & Propulsion - Naval, Other Corporation, Procurement Innovations, Submarines, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other

SSBN Vanguard Class(click to view full) Update April 10/2015: In the midst of the United Kingdom’s election politicking, the Conservative party has promised to build four new replacement subs for the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent. The Royal Navy currently...

India’s Project 17-A Stealth Frigates

by Joe Katzman | Feb 23, 2015 | Europe - Other, France, India, Pre-RFP, Russia, Surface Ships - Combat

FFG Talwar Class(click to view full) In July 2006, “India Orders 3 More Krivak III/Talwar Class Frigates” noted that the Talwar/Krivak Class were better described as modern multi-role designs, given the presence of contemporary classes with far better...

The US Navy’s Mobile Landing Platform Ships (MLP)

by Joe Katzman | Feb 1, 2015 | Asia - Other, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Europe - Other, General Dynamics, Logistics, Logistics Innovations, New Systems Tech, Policy - Doctrine, Surface Ships - Other, USA, Warfare - Lessons

MLP concept(click to view full) The Montford Point Class Mobile Landing Platform is intended to be a new class and type of auxiliary support ship, as part of the US Navy’s Maritime Prepositioning Force of the Future (MPF-F) program. They’re intended to...