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.

Another AC-208B for the Lebanese Air Force by mid 2016

 Orbital Alliant Techsystems has been awarded a contract to acquire a Cessna 208B and convert it into the AC-208B model. The delivery is expected to be in May 2016.
Another contract to up-arm and retrofit and existing aircraft already exists with an expected completion date of February 2016.

Orbital Alliant Techsystems Inc., previously known as Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a not to exceed $26,134,804 firm-fixed-price contract for support of the Lebanon Cessna 208B Caravan Program. Contractor will provide one commercial-off-the-shelf Cessna 208B Caravan with a Garmin 1000 baseline glass cockpit, avionics package and Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 turboprop engine. Modification of this aircraft will include an AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser system, Terma aircraft survivability equipment suite missile warning system, electro-optical infrared imaging system MX-15D, broadcast microwave system data link system, surveillance tracking and recording system mission processor unit obsolescence re-design and hard points on each wing capable of carrying and employing AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles. Work will be performed at Beirut, Lebanon, and is expected to be complete by May 30, 2016. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to Lebanon. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-15-C-3035).
http://www.defense.gov/Contracts/Contract.aspx?ContractID=5551

More M4 carbines are planned for the LAF by 2018

Colt Defense LLC has been awarded a firm-fix-price, indefinite quantity FMS contract to supply multiple countries, including Lebanon with M4/M4A1 carbines.

Colt Defense LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut, was awarded a $36,104,812 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity foreign military sales contract (Jordan, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Colombia, Hungary, Oman, Panama, Romania, Senegal, Lebanon, Romania) for M4/M4A1 carbines. Funding and work location will be determined with each order with an estimated completion date of May 21, 2018. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-15-D-0038).
http://www.defense.gov/Contracts/Contract.aspx?ContractID=5547

LAF receives 16 Milan launchers and 48 Milan F2A missiles as part of DONAS

The Lebanese Army received today morning 16 Milan F1 launchers and 48 Milan F2A missiles during a ceremony at Beirut Airbase. This marks the first of a series of deliveries related to the DONAS agreement.

Lebanon already operates Milan, but the missiles provided in this delivery are considered a leap in the capabilities. The Milan F2A has tandem shaped-charge warheads and was introduced in 1993. Future deliveries will include Milan launchers with night capabilities; however, it is worth noting that Milan 1427-12-157-0800 launchers which were delivered today are compatible with MIRA thermal sight.

Some photos below from today's ceremony, courtesy to Reuters and AP (Click to Enlarge)

First batch of DONAS agreement arms to be delivered on April 20, 2015

The Lebanese Army has officially announced that Monday April 20, 2015 will mark the first delivery of the Saudi-French-Lebanese arming agreement, better known as DONAS. According to the agenda of the official ceremony, there is a 10 minutes presentation by the commander of the Anti-Armor regiment, which confirms earlier expectations that the first delivery will include 48 Milan missiles along to their launchers.