Even more Hellfire II missiles for the LAF are expected in 2015

An unspecified number of Hellfire missiles are expected in the coming period. On December 17, 2014, The US DoD announced a modification for an existing contract with Hellfire Systems LLC for additional number of missiles to a number of countries, amongst Lebanon.

Hellfire Systems LLC, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $150,002,546 modification (P00133) to Foreign Military Sales contract W31P4Q-11-C-0242 (Australia, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Indonesia, Egypt, Lebanon) to manufacture and deliver 2,109 Hellfire II missile models, air-to-ground missiles models AGM-114R, AGM-114R-3, AGM-114P4-A, training guided missile TGM M36E7, and air-training-missile ATM-114Q-6. (ref)

It is not clear which models will be delivered though; yet for sure it won't be the AGM-114P4-A as the Lebanese Air Force doesn't operate platforms which this model is designed for.

This is another important step in the face of the increasing threats from ISIL and JAN, and it comes in time of increasing talks about supplying the LAF with OH-58D Kiowa and additional Cessna AC-208B.

US Administration allocates $150 Million as FY 2015 FMF for Lebanon to counter ISIL

The US administration has requested a FY 2015 budget FY 2015 adjustment to counter ISIL. The budget includes $150 million for Lebanon as urgent and immediate security assistance provided through FMF (Ref).

The justification clarifies that these funds will be used to:

• Support basic military requirements including by providing individual protective
  gear; missiles; artillery, ammunition; vehicles; fixed and rotary wing aircraft;
  intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support; and training with a focus
  on special forces and border units.
• Improve border security, enable more effective counterterrorism operations, and
  provide necessary equipment to protect Lebanon’s national territory against the
  growing threat of ISIL and spillover of violence and instability in Syria .

Let's hope the ISR being referred to include effective UAVs.

OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid is expected to equip the Lebanese FS 56

Security and Defense Arabia has reported that the expected FS 56 will most likely be equipped with the OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid as a main gun. Marina Magnani, Communication & Image Manager at Oto Melara, has detailed that the "Lebanese Navy is seriously thinking to mount this system on the ship it will receive from the French company CMN" (ref).

Fore more details on the OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid, read here.

US supports the 2nd Border Regiment with seismic sensors & radars

According to an unclassified written statement by Major General Michael Plehn to the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on February 25, 2014 (ref), the US Congress approved a $9.4M as funding for Section 1206 FY 2014 in order to provide the LAF's 2nd Border Regiment with "additional surveillance equipment to guard its portion of the border - including radars, seismic sensors, and cameras" (ref).

It is not clear if the deliveries and installations took place during 2014 or yet.

While the exact model of the equipment is not clear, we hope that the radars are ground surveillance radars capable of detecting and locating personnel from far as this will come very handy to avoid possible infiltration by terrorists.

We also hope that the seismic sensors are the type that is buried underground to provide early detection of intrusions. Seismic sensors work by detecting vibrations "by converting ground motion into a measurable electronic signal" (Ref).

Lebanon to Acquire SIMBAD RC from MBDA

According to Security & Defense Arabia (Issue: 59) Lebanon will acquire SIMBAD RC under the DONAS agreement (Ref) to be installed on the expected FS 56 crafts.

Technical annex of the DONAS agreement has been finalized

Following the preliminary agreement signed on November 5, 2014. The Lebanese and French sides have concluded a 10,000 papers detailed technical annex that includes the final list of arms, according to the Lebanese daily Assafir (Ref). This technical annex will be signed by the LAF Chief, General Qahwaji, and the head of ODAS, in the coming days in Beirut, which will then require a review and signature by Saudi Arabia.

We will not comment on the types of arms mentioned in the several articles in different Lebanese newspapers until things are more confirmed.

Possibly more Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) 2000 for the LAF

Cubic Simulation Systems, Inc. received a contact on Feb 2013 for "EST" systems for Lebanon with expected completion by Dec, 2014. The contract is worth 4.58 million USD (Ref).

The amount of the new contract is higher than the first contract (worth 3.67 million USD) for 5 EST 2000 systems already signed in 2009 and delivered in 2010.

The available details of the contract are not decisive to confirm that there are new simulators and how many; hence why the title of this article says "possibly", but if true, it is yet another step forward for the LAF and it means that the LAF has successfully used the existing 5 systems and realized effective & recognizable training.

China donates 144 LR2 .50cal snipers & 20 jamming systems to LAF

China joins the recent donators to the LAF with an interesting aid. The Official Gazette #51-2014 reported that the Chinese Government donated:

1. 144 ea LR2 12.7mm (.50 Cal) snipers incl. scopes
2. 30 M99 night vision scopes 
3. 150k .50 cal rounds
4. 20 ALBPG portable jamming system

The LR2 is a long-range 12.7mm sniper, which can be considered an important addition to the LAF arsenal. The LAF already operates an unspecified number of Barret M107 .50 Cal snipers since 2007, but this addition would allow the LAF to deploy such snipers on a wider scale outside the SOF units.

The ALBPG is another very important addition. The device is a jamming system for a wide range of wireless channels (Ref). Given its portability, it would be very effective when protecting patrols in high risk areas or important convoys from EOD.

LR2 12.7 mm long range sniper