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United Kingdom Key Defense Programs Review
The UK has an annual military procurement budget of around €8.95 billion ($11 billion), allocated across 1,000 programs managed by the Defence Procurement Agency of the Ministry of Defence. Here Show News examines Britain's current headline programs, covering all the latest developments and explaining why these projects matter.
Airbus A400M
Airbus Military Aircraft is developing the A400M tactical airlifter to meet a European Staff Requirement for a Future Large Aircraft. The UK was the first customer, committing to a batch of 25 in May 2000. Orders now stand at 180 from eight NATO nations. The A400M will hold a key place in the RAF's future airlift fleet, slotting-in between the C-130J and C-17. The entire program is worth some €20 billion ($24.6 billion), of which the UK has invested €3.4 billion ($4.2 billion). As with all Airbus aircraft, the Airbus UK division of BAE Systems makes an essential contribution with its leadership of wing design and manufacturing. The A400M is due to enter UK service in 2011. The unmatched mix of payload/range capability and cost-effectiveness it promises should have a huge impact in the military transport market.
ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile)
Developed by MBDA Missile Systems, ASRAAM is the next-generation agile dogfight missile that is replacing the AIM-9 Sidewinder in UK service. Introduced in late 2003 it is in service with all four RAF Tornado F.Mk 3 CSP squadrons. During Operation Telic over Iraq ASRAAMs were flown for 7,000 combat hours. The MBDA facility at Lostock is now delivering over 100 missiles per month. ASRAAM will be a baseline weapon for the Eurofighter Typhoon and Joint Strike Fighter, in British service and elsewhere. ASRAAM is also in service with the upgraded AF-18 Hornets of the Royal Australian Air Force (to be declared fully operational in August) and is next expected to be adopted by the Canadian Forces.
ASTOR (Airborne STand-Off Radar)
Fielded by No. 5 Sqn RAF from April 2005 onward, ASTOR is a ground surveillance system designed to provide real-time data on the deployment and movement of enemy forces. A contract was awarded to Raytheon Systems Ltd in December 1999 for the supply of five Bombardier Global Express aircraft fitted with the Raytheon ASARS2 radar (to be known as Sentinel R.Mk 1s) and eight mobile ground stations. The first fully modified Sentinel made its maiden flight from the L-3 Communications facility at Greenville, Texas, on May 26, 2004. The other four aircraft are being modified at Raytheon's Broughton, UK facility. An ASTOR-type solution was offered to NATO for its Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) program, but was rejected in favor of a much larger Airbus A321 platform. Nevertheless, the RAF's Sentinels will have to work seamlessly within the AGS architecture.
FSTA (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft)
This is one of the biggest and most controversial of current UK procurement efforts. The FSTA competition was launched in December 2000 to replace the RAF's aging VC10 and TriStar tanker fleets. The intention was to adopt a private finance solution that would see a fleet of contractor owned and operated aircraft (with RAF crews) provide a specified level of service for tanking and transport, rather than a precise number of aircraft. Nineteen VC10s and nine TriStars have to be replaced between 2008 and 2012. The program cost has been pegged at between €6 billion to €8 billion ($16.5 billion to $22 billion). In January 2004 the EADS-led AirTanker consortium, offering an Airbus A330 Multirole Tanker Transport platform, was selected to go forward for contract negotiations. This selection was made on a best value basis. However, in June news emerged that the British negotiations had stalled dramatically with the authorities reportedly unhappy at the cost—a factor that can hardly have been a surprise to them.
GBAD (Ground-Based Air Defence)
Under Phase 1 of the GBAD program the UK plans to integrate its Rapier and Starstreak surface-to-air missile systems within a new air defense command control communications computers and intelligence (ADC4I) network. This should allow today's systems to remain effective up to 2020. In December 2003 a two-year competitive assessment phase contract, valued at €126.9 million ($155.5 million), was awarded to the Lockheed Martin UK-led Team Athena and an EADS/MBDA team. A single contractor will be selected to demonstrate and manufacture the GBAD system in 2005, to be fielded in 2007. Phase 2 of the program calls for the wholesale upgrade and renewal of all UK air defense systems to the potential value of €8.9 billion ($11 billion).
JCA (Joint Combat Aircraft)
Badged as the JCA in British service, the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter is intended to join the Eurofighter Typhoon as the RAF's manned combat aircraft force for the future. The UK is the only Level One partner in the U.S.-led JSF program, a status that has been bought for a €2.09 billion ($2.56 billion) contribution to the development costs. Thanks to this, BAE Systems will receive the most meaningful workshare of all the foreign industrial participants. The UK plans to acquire around 100 of the STOVL (short take-off vertical landing) variant of the JSF to replace the Harrier and Jaguar force, and to deploy aboard the Royal Navy's CVF carriers. Delays in the overall JSF program mean that initial operating capability for the UK has slipped from 2012 to 2013, at least. There was also consternation when a British Parliamentary Answer revealed in April that the STOVL variant was some 3,300 lb overweight. Any threat to the viability of the STOVL JSF seriously jeopardizes all RAF concepts of future airpower and deployability.
Meteor BVRAAM (Beyond Range Visual Air-to-Air Missile)
The Meteor is one of the most important European defense technology programs underway today. It is a ramjet-powered BVR weapon designed to fight the extended range air battles of the future. Developed by a six-nation European team led by MBDA Missile Systems, the Meteor is being designed and built to answer a British requirement. The €1.79 billion ($2.2 billion) prime contract was signed with MBDA in December 2002. It will initially equip Eurofighter Typhoon (UK, Germany, Italy and Spain), Gripen (Sweden) and Rafale (France). The first airborne trials will be conducted in Sweden by the Gripen in late 2005. The Meteor is scheduled to enter RAF service in the 2010 timeframe.
Nimrod MRA.Mk 4
The €5.07 billion ($6.22 billion) Nimrod MRA.Mk 4 program covers the rebuild, re-engining and upgrade of 18 (reduced from 21) RAF Nimrod MR.Mk 2s to give them not only an enhanced anti-submarine warfare capability but also a whole new raft of surface combat, overland warfare, communications and reconnaissance skills. These excellent intentions have been overwhelmed by the immense engineering task of taking the ancient hand-built Nimrods and turning them into platforms for the 21st Century. The program was launched in July 1995 as the Nimrod 2000. After years of delay and huge cost overruns, with bitter disputes between the MoD and BAE Systems, the first Nimrod MRA.Mk 4 has now emerged from the Woodford factory and is preparing for taxy trials. Current plans call for an in-service date of 2009, but a cloud still hangs over the future of the program.
SABR (Support Amphibious and Battlefield Rotorcraft)
This project, dating back to 1999, seeks to provide the UK's future medium and heavy lift battlefield helicopter capability, replacing the Puma and Sea King/Commando fleets. The chosen type, or types, will work chiefly in support of Royal Marine Commandos and 16 Air Assault Brigade. Under the SABR program up to 70 new aircraft could be procured to enter service from 2010 onward. The estimated cost will be €9.7 billion ($11.9 billion). Most observers expect a mix of additional Merlin and Chinook helicopters to be acquired, when and if SABR moves forward from its current rather vague Concept Phase.
Skynet 5
In October 2003 EADS-owned Paradigm Secure Communications (PSC) made history when it signed the largest ever private finance initiative (PFI) contract with the UK MoD. Worth an anticipated €3.7 billion ($4.6 billion) up to 2018, the deal called for PSC to deliver secure satellite communications services for the UK military using new Skynet 5 satellites. At least two new Astrium Skynet 5 satellites will be launched, supplanting today's Skynet 4s, in 2006 and 2007. The 15-year deal also includes 59 mobile remote terminals and is due to be operational by March 2008. Skynet 5 will be at the heart of the UK's future network-enabled capability. In May 2004 it was announced that PSC and Skynet 5 will also supply capability for NATO's new Satcom Post 2000 requirement—along with French and Italian systems.
Storm Shadow
Ordered for the RAF under the CASOM (Conventionally Armed Stand Off Missile) program in 1997, the MBDA Storm Shadow had a very successful operational debut during combat against Iraq in 2003. RAF Tornado GR.Mk 4s fired 28 missiles, before the weapon had been formally cleared for service. Storm Shadow, with its BROACH warhead, gives the RAF an unparalleled level of precise, hard-target attack capability—and similar weapons are being delivered to France, Italy, Greece and the UAE. MBDA is now developing a datalink system for the missile to operate in an enhanced networked mode—delivering battle damage assessments or allowing in-flight retargeting, for example.
Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is at the core of Britain's defense aerospace industry and technology development. The first aircraft are now establishing themselves in squadron service in the air forces of all four-partner nations, while export orders have been won in Austria and Greece. The UK has still to hammer out the exact definition of its Tranche 2 contract for the next batch of 89 aircraft—a decision that has been delayed for more than a year. There are also growing concerns that the UK may not commit to its intended full buy of 88 Tranche 3 Eurofighters.
Watchkeeper
Under the Watchkeeper program UK land maneuver commanders will, for the first time, have a fully effective Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) UAV system for networked C4I (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence) missions. Contracts for the Watchkeeper systems integration assurance phase were awarded in 2003 to Northrop Grumman ISS and Thales. The Northrop Grumman bid includes the RQ-8B Fire Scout and Swiss RUAG Ranger platforms, while Thales is offering the Elbit Hermes 450 and Hermes 180. In March 2004 both companies submitted demonstration and manufacturing proposals, which are now under review. Watchkeeper has an in-service date of 2006 (revised from 2007), with initial capability to be available by 2005.
—Robert Hewson
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