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2018-06-03
SOFEX Ends on a Successful Note
With a dramatic display of new Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) air assets as drawcards, alongside the latest technologies and capabilities in special operations and homeland security, the 12th edition of SOFEX was held in Amman, Jordan, from May 8 to 10. SOFEX 2018 was inaugurated by His Majesty King Abdullah II and attended by military delegations from many countries. The three-day event brought together more than 350 companies from 35 Arab and foreign countries.
SOFEX is being organised under the direct supervision of HRH Prince Feisal Bin Al-Hussein since 1996, and is fully supported by the Jordan Armed Forces and security agencies.
“SOFEX represents a global forum for dialogue, linking countries from around the world for international peace and security,” said Amer Tabbah, managing director, SOFEX. He noted that more than 400 official delegates representing 53 nations attended the event.
The opening ceremony saw the Special Forces Units of the Jordanian armed forces performing live demonstration with troops and combat helicopters. The demonstration also simulated hostage rescue and evacuation of wounded personnel during anti-terrorist operation. During the live demonstration, visitors had the opportunity to see military equipment used by the Jordanian armed forces’ Rapid Response Unit including utility helicopter Black Hawk and Cobra attack helicopter backed by fighter aircraft. Equally impressive were the static displays featuring military and security vehicles, as well as the latest RJAF aircraft acquisitions.
Lebanon’s ‘Black Panthers’ bags ‘Warrior’ contest
Conducted just prior to SOFEX, the Annual Warrior Competition at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre (KASOTC) was in its 10th year, and had the largest field of participants yet. Lebanon’s ‘Black Panthers’ SWAT team from the country’s internal security forces took overall first place, as they did in 2016. In second place was the ‘Snow Leopard’ commando team from the Chinese police, which had back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2014. Placed third was a SWAT team from California.
This year’s week-long competition featured 40 teams from 25 countries, comprising Austria, Belarus, Brunei, China, Czech Republic, Greece, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Moldova, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Sweden, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine and the U.S.
Teams undertook Special Forces exercises that not only challenged individual capabilities in shooting and other skills, but also rewarded teamwork.
France presents full range of military and security equipment
French defence industry attended SOFEX under the umbrella of the GICAT, a professional group representing the industrial defence and security sectors supplying military equipment to the French Land Forces and exporting Land and Air-land equipment all over the world. The French Defense and Security Industry with more than 15 companies presented a full range of military and security equipment.
France is characterised by an extremely sophisticated and competitive defence industry, which includes global players such as Thales, Airbus Group Defence & Space, Dassault, the Safran Group, DCNS, MBDA, and Nexter.
The French defence industry presented latest innovations and technologies of defence products especially designed and manufactured for Special Forces and SWAT teams. France has one of the strongest defence industries in the world.
BAE Systems looks for additional export
Now that production of the M777A2 155mm/39 calibre lightweight towed howitzers is underway again, BAE Systems is looking for additional export opportunities in the Middle East. The M777 was originally developed to meet the requirements of the US Army and Marine Corps to replace their much heavier M198 155mm/39 calibre towed howitzers.
It has also been sold to Australia (54) and Canada (37), with the latest customer being India, which ordered 145 units.
According to BAE Systems, the M198 takes 15 minutes to come into action, carry out a fire mission of firing five 155mm rounds and then being taken out of action. The M777 can carry out the same fire mission in just five minutes. For engaging targets with precision effect, the 155mm Raytheon M982 Excalibur guided projectile is used, with a maximum range of 40km.
LEONARDO’s lightweight laser target designator
Leonardo exhibited its Type 163 laser target designator at SOFEX, providing an impressive example of how technology originally developed for combat aircraft is now finding a second life with special operations forces on the ground.
Alberto Pietra, sales and marketing director, Leonardo Airborne and Space Systems, said: “Traditionally, laser target designators have proved too heavy and bulky for ground forces to take into frontline operations, causing problems with target identification in close combat operations. However, the Type 163 laser target designator is a highly portable, less than 2.3kg package. “This draws on experience gained in producing lightweight but powerful laser products for combat jets and attack helicopters, such as the F-35 and Apache, which both carry Leonardo targeting lasers.”
AM General brings HMMWV
AM General brought to SOFEX a version of the High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) fitted with a 105mm howitzer on the rear. This is referred to as the Enhanced Tactical Indirect (ETI) – HMMWV Hawkeye 105mm Weapon System.
AM General is responsible for the platform and Mandus Group for the weapon system. The weapon is provided with a hybrid special recoil system, which allows it to be installed on light platforms such as the HMMWV. The version on display was fitted with the 105mm M30 barrel from the U.S. Army M119 light towed howitzer.
Upgraded Cobra
The first two AH- 1F Cobras to be upgraded for the Royal Jordanian Air Force were returned from rework at the Science & Engineering Services (SES) facility at Huntsville, Alabama, and one was on show at SOFEX in the outside display area. Following a competitive process, SES was awarded a contract to perform a far-reaching upgrade on 12 of the RJAF’s original Cobra fleet.
Three more upgrades have been completed and the aircraft are in the U.S. awaiting the completion of flight tests. All 12 are due to be returned to Jordan before the end of the year. SES’s upgrade programme encompasses three areas: airframe, avionics and weapons.
The primary weapon for the unmodified Cobra is the BGM-71 TOW, but the upgraded AH-1Fs have Lockheed Martin M310 launchers for the AGM-114R Hellfire missile. They can also carry standard seven- or 19-round 2.75in (70mm) rocket launchers.
Cubic’s training capabilities
Cubic Global Defense (CGD) business division displayed a comprehensive range of industry-leading training capabilities at SOFEX. “Cubic’s world-class training technologies accelerate training efficiency and improve overall readiness through individual and collective engagement,” said Dave Buss, president of Cubic Global Defense. “We look forward to the opportunity to showcase our innovative training solutions and increase our offerings to our customers in the Middle East region.”
Cubic showcased air combat force-on-force training, ground live combat training, fire arms training and cyber security training at SOFEX.
Polaris Defense presents Dagor and MRZR D2
American Company Polaris Government and Defense presented MRZR D2 and Dagor all-terrain vehicles at the show. Polaris Government & Defense develops a range of vehicles to serve the U.S. and allied forces, including the MVRS, MV700, and RZR-SW, to meet the increasing demand for light off-road mobility platforms.
The MRZR-D2 all-terrain vehicle is designed to perform a full range of military missions, including rapid deployment of forces in the field, casualty evacuation, and command and control.
The DAGOR has world-class capability in extreme off-road terrain at full payload. The purpose-built vehicle is designed with trophy truck-inspired suspension to carry 3,250 lbs (1,500 kg) of payload or a 9-man infantry squad at a higher rate of speed over terrain usually travelled on foot. This allows the warfighter to move quickly to the objective with mission-critical equipment.
Rosoboronexport highlights arms, equipment and flames
AO Rosoboronexport (Russian state arms trade agency incorporated by Rostec) displayed modern types of arms and military equipment, including those tested during the counter-terrorist operation in Syria.
The pavilion presented Tiger and Typhoon-K motor vehicles, BTR-80/80A/82A armoured personnel carriers, A-220M 57 mm light automatic artillery mount, Kornet-E and Kornet-EM anti-tank guided weapon systems, sights and night vision devices, compact radars, PDM-A Shmel-M reactive flamethrowers, 2B24 82 mm mortars, Bur compact grenade launcher, various examples of grenade launchers and small arms, Igla-S and Verba man-portable antiaircraft systems, antiaircraft ultra-short range antiaircraft missile system derived from Strelets for Igla-type of man-portable SAM, RShG-2 rocket-powered assault grenade, and various munitions.
Also displayed at the exhibition, was the TOS-1A heavy flame-throwing system which has recently become popular in the Middle East due to its excellent performance in large-scale anti-terrorist operations.
KADDB unveils new Al-Mared 8x8
KADDB, King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, a Jordanian State Defence Company unveiled its new 8x8 armoured vehicle under the name of Al-Mared during SOFEX 2018. The Al-Mared is fully developed and designed by KADDB based on an 8x8 TATRA truck chassis fitted with a fully protected all-welded steel hull that can provide ballistic protection up to STANG 4569 Level 3, against firing of small arms 7.62×51mm caliber AP (Armor-Piercing) at 30 metres with 930 m/s.
The lower part of the Al-Mared integrates v-shaped armoured hull that protects occupants by deflecting mine blasts anywhere under the vehicle. It protects the crew of the vehicle against mine blast of 8 kg of TNT under any wheels. KADDB presented two variants of its new Al-Mared, the APC and IFV versions.
RJAF's Mi-26T2 heavy-lift helicopter
The Royal Jordanian Air Force displayed for the first time the first Mi-26T2 heavy-lift helicopter it inducted in January 2018. Jordan signed a contract for the purchase of four Mi-26T2 choppers on April 17, 2016. "The first of the four Mi-26T2 heavy lift helicopters ordered for the RJAF has arrived in Jordan," Brigadier General Odeh Shudaifat, a spokesperson for Jordanian military said.
The Mi-26T2 is intended for all sorts of operations: transportation, evacuation, fire fighting etc. Mi-26T2 is capable of carrying up to 82 full armed troopers or up to 20 tonnes of cargo inside the fuselage or on external sling.
MBDA ramps up production of MMP and ATGM
Also at SOFEX was MBDA, the European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems. MBDA is ramping up production of its Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system for the French Army, with the first production systems delivered late in 2017.
The first French Army MMP contract covers the supply of 400 firing posts, 2,850 missiles and a simulator developed by GDI Simulation. MBDA classes the MMP as a fifth-generation ATGM and it is fully interoperable with the French Army’s FÉLIN future infantry programme. The MMP system consists of the missile in its disposable launch tube and the firing post. The guided missile is fitted with a tandem multipurpose high-explosive anti-tank warhead to defeat targets fitted with explosive reactive armour, and has a range of more than 4,000m, which is twice that of the MILAN it is replacing.
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