The Ecuadorian Air Force (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana, FAE) operates 18 Super Tucanos; they are established at Manta Air Base in two squadrons: 2313 “Halcones” (used for border surveillance and flight training) and 2311 “Dragones” (used for counterinsurgency). Ecuadorian Super Tucanos use the PT-6A-68A (1,300 shp) engine. The Ecuadorian Air Force A-29 has very robust landing gear and is able to land on runways as short as 500 meters.
Ecuadorian Air Force A-29 Super Tucano
On 23 March 2009, Embraer announced that negotiations over a nine-month-old agreement with the Ecuadorian air force have finally been completed. The deal covers the supply of 24 turboprop-powered Super Tucanos, with these to replace Ecuador’s aging fleet of Vietnam-era Cessna A-37 Dragonfly strike aircraft, and help reassert control over the country’s airspace.
Ecuadorian Air Force A-29 Super Tucano
In May 2010, after receiving its sixth Super Tucano from a contract worth $270 million, Ecuador announced a reduction in its order for the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano from 24 to 18 aircraft to release funds to buy some used South African Air Force Denel Cheetah C fighters. By cutting its order for the EMB-314 type, the Defence Ministry says the accrued savings would allow it to purchase the second-hand Cheetahs, and bolster the air force’s flagging air defence component.
Ecuadorian Air Force A-29 Super Tucano
The Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, also named ALX or EMB 314 , is a Brazilian turboprop light attack aircraft designed and built by Embraer as a development of the Embraer EMB 312 Tucano. The A-29 Super Tucano carries a wide variety of weapons, including precision-guided munitions, and was designed to be a low-cost system operated in low-threat environments. In addition to its manufacture in Brazil, Embraer has set up a production line in the United States in conjunction with Sierra Nevada Corporation for the A-29’s many export customers.
The Australian Government had approved the acquisition of 24 MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopters at a cost of over $3 billion. The new helicopters replace the Royal Australian Navy’s current combat helicopter capability provided by 16 Seahawk S-70B-2 helicopters and will also provide the air to surface strike capability which was to have been provided by the cancelled Seasprite program. Royal Australian Navy have the capacity to provide at least eight warships with a combat helicopter at the same time, including ANZAC Class frigates and the new Air Warfare Destroyers. The remainder will be based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales, and will be in various stages of the regular maintenance and training cycle
Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Romeo
The MH-60R was originally known as “LAMPS Mark III Block II Upgrade” when development began in 1993 with Lockheed Martin (formerly IBM/Loral). The MH-60R Seahawk (also referred as Romeo) is a further development of the SH-60B Seahawk, which in turn is based on the US Army UH-60 Black Hawk. Designated YSH-60R, they were delivered to NAS Patuxent River in 2001 for flight testing. The production variant was redesignated MH-60R to match its multi-mission capability. The MH-60R was formally deployed by the US Navy in 2006. The MH-60R is designed to combine the features of the SH-60B and SH-60F. The United States Navy has accepted around 100 ‘Romeos’ which have accumulated 90,000 flying hours, including on operational deployments. The first two helicopters will arrive in mid-2014 for testing and evaluation with operations expected to commence in mid-2015.
Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Romeo
Main missions of the MH-60R Seahawk are Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW). This helicopter can detect and track submarines and surface ships and attack with torpedoes and missiles. Secondary missions are search and rescue, combat search and rescue, vertical replenishment, medical evacuation and insertion and extraction of special forces. The MH-60R has two General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines, developing 1 900 shp each. These are the same engines of the SH-60B. The MH-60R has a hinged tail, that can be folded in order to reduce footprint aboard ships. Cockpit instrumentation and displays are similar to that of the MH-60S. For extended range this helicopter can carry external fuel tanks. The helicopter has an integrated self-defense system.
Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Romeo
Its sensors include the ASE package, MTS-FLIR, the AN/APS-147 multi-mode radar/IFF interrogator, an advanced airborne fleet data link, and a more advanced airborne active low frequency sonar (ALFS). Pilot instrumentation is based on a fully integrated glass cockpit, using several digital monitors instead of the complex array of dials and gauges in Bravo and Foxtrot aircraft. Offensive capabilities are improved by the addition of new Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes and Hellfire missiles. A single door-mounted 7.62 mm mm or 12.7 mm machine gun can be fitted. All Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light (HSL) squadrons that receive the Romeo are redesignated Helicopter, Strike Maritime (HSM) squadrons. During a mid-life technology insertion project, the MH-60R fleet shall be fitted with the AN/APS-153 Multi-Mode Radar with Automatic Radar Periscope Detection and Discrimination (ARPDD) capability.
The CH-47J/JA is a medium-transport helicopter for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The differences between the CH-47J and the CH-47D are the engine, rotor brake and avionics, for use for general transportation, SAR and disaster activity like U.S. forces. The CH-47JA, introduced in 1993, is a long-range version of the CH-47J, fitted with an enlarged fuel tank, an AAQ-16 FLIR in a turret under the nose, and a partial glass cockpit. Both versions are built under license in Japan by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, who produced 61 aircraft by April 2001.
Japan Self-Defense Force CH-47J Medium-Transport Helicopter
The Japan Defense Agency ordered 54 aircraft of which 39 were for the JGSDF and 15 were for the JASDF. Boeing supplied flyable aircraft, to which Kawasaki added full avionics, interior, and final paint. The CH-47J model Chinook (N7425H) made its first flight in January 1986, and it was sent to Kawasaki in April. Boeing began delivering five CH-47J kits in September 1985 for assembly at Kawasaki. Kawasaki continued to make improvements as needed, and in 2017, they reached the milestone of delivering a combined total of 100 units to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Japan Self-Defense Force CH-47J Medium-Transport Helicopter
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engined, tandem rotor, heavy-lift helicopter developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol (later known as Boeing Rotorcraft Systems). The CH-47 is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name, Chinook, is from the Native American Chinook people of modern-day Washington state. Its prototype model, the CH-47A, was deployed as a U.S. Army’s transport helicopter in 1962, and its performance has since been upgraded with the introduction of successive new models, the CH-47B and CH-47C. The military version of the helicopter has been subject to numerous export sales from nations across the world, typically using it as heavy-lift rotorcraft in a military context.
Japan Self-Defense Force CH-47J Medium-Transport Helicopter
LRU (Lance Roquette Unitaire – Unitary Launch Rocket) is a European upgrade of M270 involving Germany, Italy and France. In September 2011, a contract for the LRU upgrade was awarded by the French Army Procurement Agency with a Franco-German consortium including Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, alongside Airbus Defence and Space, Sagem, and Thales to modernize the LRM (M270) MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) with new firing system and rockets. LRU is equipped with a new fire control system (EFCS – European Fire Control System) designed par Airbus Defense and Space. The first upgraded LRU was delivered to the French army in February 2014 to the 6th Artillery Regiment, based at Gresswiller for testing, which are now delivered to the 1st Artillery Regiment to be operational.
French Army LRU Multiple Launch Rocket System
France is upgrading its M270s to fire the 227 mm M31 high explosive (HE) unitary warhead Guided MLRS (GMLRS). This change was required following France’s ratification of the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions in December 2008, which banned France’s existing munitions for the M270. French army had a fleet of 55 M270s, only 13 units are receiving the upgrade to the LRU configuration, with the rest having been withdrawn from service. LRU program addresses the need to conduct all-weather precision ground strikes metric, up to 70 km. The acquisition, carried out in cooperation with Germany and Italy, is to turn it into rocket unit of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), entered service in the early 90’s.
French Army LRU Multiple Launch Rocket System
Compared with the earlier French MLRS rockets, which were armed with submunitions, the M31 features a single 90 kg HE warhead; includes GPS and inertial navigation system guidance to provide a circular error of probability of less than 10 m; and doubles the missile’s range to 70 km. EFCS enables firing of M31, M31A1, M32, AT2 and 110 mm rockets, but not of M26, M26A1 and M30, so as to ensure full compliance with the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The LRU uses the new rocket M31 also called GUMLRS (Guided Unitary MLRS). In France, the M31 rocket is manufactured by the U.S. company Lockheed Martin with an engine supplied by the French Company Roxel.
French Army LRU Multiple Launch Rocket System
The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is an armored, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher; a type of rocket artillery. Since the first M270s were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983, the MLRS has been adopted by several NATO countries. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured in the United States and in Europe, along with more than 700,000 rockets. The production of the M270 ended in 2003, when a last batch was delivered to the Egyptian Army. MLRS was developed jointly by the United Kingdom, United States, West Germany, France and Italy, developed from the older General Support Rocket System (GSRS). The M270 MLRS weapons system is collectively known as the M270 MLRS Self-propelled Loader/Launcher (SPLL).
The Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) is a lightweight air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile under development by Thales Air Defence for the United Kingdom. LMM is a low cost, lightweight, precision strike, missile, which has been designed to be fired from tactical platforms including fixed or rotary winged UAVs and surface platforms. The system is designed to provide a rapid reaction to a wide range of the surface threats from wheeled or tracked vehicles, towed artillery or static installations; naval threats from small ships and fast inshore attack craft and an air threat from light aircraft. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed an initial order for 1,000 missiles and deliveries were due to start in 2013.The missile is known as Martlet in British service. The LMM missile’s propulsion system consists of a two-stage rocket motor. It has a velocity of more than Mach 1.5 and an operational range between 6km and 8km, while the minimum range is 400m.
Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)
The missile, sealed in its canister, consists of a two stage motor, warhead and dual mode fuze, together with guidance electronics and a highly
accurate control actuator system. The low cost, covert, flexible LMM missile features soft launch design and has a shelf life of 15 years. It has immediate launch, high lethality, as well as fire on-the-move capabilities. The missile measures 1.3m in length, 0.26m in wing span, and 76mm in diameter. It has a maximum weight of 13kg. It is equipped with a modular shaped charge / pre-fragmented blast warhead, which weighs up to 3kg. The warhead is activated by a highly sensitive laser proximity fuse. The versatile design of the weapon system allows it to be configured to function as an all-in-one weapon system for larger naval platforms and as a hybrid missile / gun system fitted with LMM and integrated with naval guns. It can also be customised for integration on a fast patrol boat.
Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)
Guidance for the LMM missile is provided from an optical tracker system attached to the launch platform. The missile can be operated in multiple secure guidance modes including laser beam riding, automatic guidance and laser designation to ensure precision attack of targets with man-in-the-loop. It can also be equipped with IR terminal homing guidance with INS and GPS navigation, as well as semi-active laser guidance. The guidance section is part of an optically stabilised mount, featuring charge-coupled device (CCD) and thermal cameras connected with an automatic target tracker (ATT) and missile laser guidance unit. On target indication, the weapon operator acquiresthe target in the display monitor. The ATT is directed onto the target by the operator and he engages the ATT, which locks a box around the threat. When the target is within range the operator selects ‘System On’ and presses the firing trigger. The missile is launched and guided automatically to the target.
Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)
LMM is intended to provide a single family of weapons that can be used in different modes, including:
Maritime – LMM will be carried on the new Lynx Wildcat helicopters of the Royal Navy for use against small surface vessels. ASELSAN of Turkey has developed dedicated mounting systems which can also enable the LMM to be launched from naval platforms such as fast attack craft (FAC).
Surface-To-Surface – The dual-effect (blast fragmentation and shaped charge) of the LMM’s warhead makes it suitable for use against a wide range of ground targets including light/medium armour.
Air-Launched – The missile’s modular design allows for future development and introduction of alternative warheads and seekers.
LMM was initially conceived as Thales’ response to the MoD’s Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (Light) FASGW(L) requirement. The FASGW-L missile system consists of five barrel launchers and a laser guidance system. LMM has been designed to be launched from a variety of naval, air and land platforms against a wide range of targets. In July 2014, Thales unveiled a modification of the LMM that turns it into a glide bomb, called the FreeFall LMM (FFLMM). Thales partnered with Textron to market it as the Fury for the U.S. market, who provides a height-of-burst sensor and electronic safe and arm device.
PHM Atlântico (A140) is an amphibious assault ship and current flagship of the Brazilian Navy. Originally constructed in the United Kingdom for service with the Royal Navy, she was commissioned on 30 September 1998 as HMS Ocean, serving until being decommissioned on 27 March 2018, and then commissioned into service with Brazil that following June. In December 2017, the Brazilian Navy confirmed the purchase of the ship for (GBP) £84.6 million, (equivalent to R$359.5M and USD $113.2M). Following her decommissioning from Royal Navy service in March 2018, she will undertake a period of maintenance in the United Kingdom and is expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro by 25 August 2018,[9] with the intention of being commissioned and fully operational by 2020. Brazilian defence officials confirmed the purchase, as well as officials from the UK MoD, as of 17 February 2018.
Brazilian Navy Amphibious Assault Ship Atlântico
The Brazilian Navy commissioned the multi-purpose helicopter carrier PHM Atlântico (A140) on 29 June in the United Kingdom. The helicopter carrier package for Brazil includes an Artisan 3D search radar, KH1007 surface surveillance radar system, four 30 mm DS30M Mk 2 remote weapon systems and four Mk 5B landing craft. However, the three original 20 mm Mk 15 Block 1B Phalanx close-in weapon systems, the torpedo defence systems and 7.62 mm M134 machine guns were removed from the ship before its transfer to Brazil. The ship displaces 21.578 tonnes, is 203.43 m long and has a range of 8,000 n miles. It has been undergoing maintenance work by Babcock and BAE Systems since February. Scheduled to reach its homeport, Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro (AMRJ), on 25 August, PHM Atlântico will undergo operational sea training under the Royal Navy’s Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) programme.
The CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile), is the next generation air surface-to-air missiles designed for land, sea and air environments developed by MBDA for the United Kingdom. CAMM shares some common features and components with the ASRAAM air-to-air missile, but with updated electronics and an active radar homing seeker. The Common Anti-Air Modular Missile is intended to replace the Sea Wolf missile on Type 23 frigates of the Royal Navy from 2017, the Rapier missile in British Army service from 2018 and is contributing to the updating of MBDA’s ASRAAM in service with the Royal Air Force. The UK’s current inservice Rapier ground based air defence system is planned to be replaced by the CAMM based system.
CAMM FLAADS (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile Future Local Area Air Defence System)
CAMM has a minimum operational range of less than 1 km and a maximum range greater than 25 km, although some reports that trials have a shown a capability of up to 60 km. These ranges are significantly greater than the 1–10 km range of Sea Wolf and other systems CAMM will replace.[22] CAMM is 99 kilograms (218 lb) in weight, 3.2 metres (10 ft) in length, 166 millimetres (6.5 in) diameter and reaches generous supersonic speeds of Mach 3 (or 1,020 meters per second).CAMM is a point defence and local area defence missile designed to respond to sophisticated missile attacks and has the capability to defend against saturation attacks of supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, aircraft and other high-performance targets.
CAMM FLAADS (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile Future Local Area Air Defence System)
It does this via multiple channels of fire, providing 360-degree simultaneous coverage and high degrees of manoeuvrability. MBDA state that CAMM has a “high rate of fire against multiple simultaneous targets”, providing capabilities comparable to the Aster 15 missile. Design characteristics allow for low cost by modularity and minimising electromechanical complexity through implementing most functionality in software. Additionally, the command and control software reuses over 75% of that developed for the PAAMS system. The soft launch technology provides a true 360° air defence capability and a weapon system that can be easily concealed and quickly deployed without the need for dedicated search radars.
CAMM FLAADS (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile Future Local Area Air Defence System)
On the land domain, CAMM is known as Sky Sabre by the British Army. This application has over three-times the range of its predecessor, Rapier and is able to intercept the most challenging targets in all-weather conditions. For international customers in the land domain, MBDA markets the Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS). This is a rapidly deployable point and area defence system designed to protect mobile and static high value assets. It provides all-weather protection against a spectrum of conventional and challenging air targets, including low level terrain and high altitude threats. Each EMADS launcher is scalable and can carry multiple CAMM or CAMM-ER missiles as well as being highly mobile with excellent off-road capability. The system provides EMADS with pre-launch targeting information based on track data from a suitable radar sensor.
CAMM FLAADS (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile Future Local Area Air Defence System)
