The first photo of Lebanese Army M109A2 in action emerges

The LAF published the first photo for a M109A2 Self-propelled Howitzer in action on its Twitter account.
The photo is taken in a very good way, and available in High Resolution; making it a very nice wallpaper:)

The LAF received earlier in 2015 twelve M109A2 from Jordan, read more here.


Click here for HiRes version.

M109A2 in Action

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanese Army demonstrates TOW 2A and TOW 2B

The Lebanese Army conducted today a live demonstration of the recently delivered TOW 2A and TOW 2B.

(Hi-Res Photos; click to enlarge; you can get higher resolution by saving the photo)
Photo Credits: Associated Press

TOW 2A

TOW  2B

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanon's A-29 Super Tucano deal officially announced

Lots of talks surfaced before about Lebanon's interest in A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft. Now, DSCA is officially announcing the deal which makes the subject confirmed and done. The announcement doesn't mention any expected deliveries start date but sheds the light in details on the package.

Six A-29 Super Tucano along to spares, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS), and support & training form a package of $462 millions.

The Government of Lebanon has requested a possible sale of six (6) A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, eight (8) PT6A-68A Turboprop engines (6 installed and 2 spares), eight (8) ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispensing Systems, two thousand (2000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems, eight (8) AN/AAR-60(V)2 Missile Launch Detection Systems, non-SAASM Embedded Global Positioning System/Initial Navigation System (EGIs), spare and repair parts, flight testing, maintenance support, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, ferry support, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $462 million.
http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/lebanon-29-super-tucano-aircraft

 That's a very positive news, and that means deliveries are no longer far away - at least to start in 2017.

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanese Army receives additional 40 HMMWV armament carriers

The Lebanese Army announced today that it has received an additional 40 HMMWV (Ref) M1044/M1043 armament carriers w/supplemental armor. The published picture shows a M1044, hence why we cannot confirm that this is the only model received.

The LAF had previously received shipments that include M1043 and M1044. The difference between between the two models is that the M1044 has a winch.

M1044 being unloaded at Beirut Port. Credits: LAF

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanese Army is expected to receive further 125 M1151A1B1

US Government issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) earlier in June 2015 to AM General for a FMS of more than 2,000 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs). The RFP has an option of 125 M1151A1B1 along to 2 years of spares for Lebanon (Ref).

Options are usually exercised at any time. Earlier contract in 2014 had an option of 36 M1151A1B1 for Lebanon of which 29 were later exercised.

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Procurement of Lebanon's Insitu ScanEagle UAVs is underway

We previously reported that Lebanon plans to acquire 4x Insitu ScanEagle UAVs. New details about the deal surfaced earlier in May through a FBO solicitation.
The details of the solicitation reveal that the actual UAVs have been acquired as a Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) product but require upgrade and modification. The whole system would eventually consist of:

1. ScanEagle UAS - analog Electro Optic (EO 900) and Medium Wave Infra-Red (MWIR 3.0)
2. Launch and recovery (LRE) equipment
3. Ground control stations
4. Video Exploitation Systems (IVES)

The contract as an estimated total value of  $9.8M and will be funded with Section 2282 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) fund.

Hope to see the system flying soon in the skies of Lebanon.

Source

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Patuxent River, MD intends to negotiate and award a sole source, Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Delivery Order under Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) N00019-12-G-0008 with Insitu Inc., 118 E. Columbia River Way, Bingen WA, for ScanEagle (SE) Air Vehicles (AV) hardware upgrades and modifications to previously procured ScanEagle Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) for FMS Lebanon (FMS Case# - TBD), as well as spares, site activation/survey, training, program management, Field Service Representatives (FSR'S), and associated data. The SE AV's shall conisist of analog Electro Optic (EO 900) and Medium Wave Infra-Red (MWIR 3.0) Scan Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The UAS hardware shall consist of the air vehicles, their components, launch and recovery (LRE) equipment, ground control stations and Video Exploitation Systems (IVES) required for operation of the system as designed.
...
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=13fd7c24e0fcbbd150ca6a950bef48f0&tab=core&_cview=0

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanon set to receive 1000 AGM-114 Hellfire II Missiles

A major AGM-114 Hellfire II Missiles delivery is in the process for Lebanon. DSCA has released today a major arm sale news release announcing a "possible" sale of 1000 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles in addition to repair, spares, support, training and technical documentation at a value of $146 mission US Dollars

When DSCA announces a possible major arm sales, it is usually a done deal.
We are wondering however, if the big quantity can hint a possible platform deliveries in the near-term; in both cases it is a magnificent news for Lebanon.

WASHINGTON, Jun 4, 2015 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Lebanon for AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $146 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Lebanon has requested possible sale of 1,000 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles, containers, repair and return, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor logistics and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $146 million.
http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/lebanon-agm-114-hellfire-ii-missiles

LAF receives a new batch of TOW II Launchers and Missiles

The Lebanese Army announced on June 1st, 2015 that it has received a shipment of TOW II missiles along to their launchers (ref). The statement did not specify the quantity, but looking at the published photos we could count at least 72 missiles (2x pallets of 24 and 3x pallets of 8).

Previous posts in this blog confirmed that the LAF is expected to receive TOW II missiles in the future, so these deliveries could be related to them.