Lebanese Army expects 32 M2 Bradley IFV

According to Al-Hayat newspaper quoting Aram Nerguizian, a senior analyst at CSIS, the Lebanese Army is expecting 32 M2 Bradley IFV. No more details are provided on the variant and expected delivery time.

Aram Nerguizian is known to be very reliable regarding topics of Lebanese Army. On the other hand, in a previous article we covered the possibility of M2 Bradley deliveries given a statement regarding "new APCs" by the LAF commander.

It's great to see this possibility getting more of a reality. The M2 Bradley will have great role fighting on the Syrian borders.

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Photos & Videos of Lebanese AF A-29 Super Tucano on Training Flights at Moody AFB

A YouTube channel has been releasing videos from all around Moody AFB. Along side, the channel seems affiliated with a Flicker account that is also showing photos from there. On their latest are some photos & videos showing Lebanese Air Force A-29 Super Tucano on training sorties.

The Lebanese Air Force pilots commenced their training at Moody AFB earlier this year. Photos from US AF showed a Lebanese pilot on an A-29 identified by Construction Number 15-2022. Moreover, Embraer confirmed delivering 2 Lebanese A-29 to USAF in their Q1 2017 results; but seems the number might be 4 by now. 

There are much more photos on the Flicker account, also the YouTube channel has multiple videos, but here are few photos & videos showing Lebanese A-29 identified by Construction Numbers 15-2021, 15-2022, and 15-2024. Check the links below to access the remaining media.

Looking forward to seeing these aircraft flying in Lebanon's sky.

Photos (Click to Enlarge):

 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131038794@N06/33710786125/in/album-72157678732008566/

 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131038794@N06/33028268010/in/album-72157678732008566/

 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131038794@N06/34280239022/in/album-72157678732008566/

Videos:
Quality is not the best you would expect

Another video here for some Lebanese and Afghan A-29

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MoodyWatchers
Flicker Account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131038794@N06/
This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

LAF takes delivery of hundreds of M2, M240, and M249 machine guns

The Lebanese Army took a delivery of 800x M2 .50 cal machine guns, 171x M240 machine guns, and 148x M249 light machine guns earlier today May 05, 2017 (Ref).

We had previously reported that the LAF expects 800 M2 machine guns worth $1,014,800.00 as excess defense articles.

 

Credits: LAF

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanese Air Force acquired Garmin G1000 desktop training devices

Garmin International received a contract back in 2016 valued $94,342 to provide the Lebanese Air Force with Garmin desktop training devices & Garmin maintenance mock-up training devices for the G1000 system.

Garmin G1000 - Source: garmin.com

 The Garmin G1000 is an avionics suite made for all-glass cockpits, including the Cessna Caravan; this system is also installed on the LAF AC-208B Cessna Caravan. These training devices, or simulators, would enable training on "the concepts and theories behind WAAS GPS; comprehend various different user interface tasks; understand G1000 LRU interfaces and architecture; competent with system software loading and configuration of the G1000; familiar with the databases associated with the G1000, their use, and updating procedures; and understand how to access different maintenance modes and procedures for the G1000" (Ref).


This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Embraer already delivered two Lebanese A-29 Super Tucano to USAF

Embraer released its Q1 2017 results, and the report confirms that two A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the Lebanese Air Force order have been delivered to the US Air Force. These will eventually be commissioned to Lebanon.

We are already in Q2 and possibly more aircraft were delivered since end of Q1.

DEFENSE & SECURITY

In 1Q17, Embraer delivered two Super Tucano aircraft to the United States Air Force (USAF) that will be commissioned to Lebanon.
http://www.embraer.com/Documents/noticias/Release%20US%201Q17_FINAAL.pdf

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Full specs of the Lebanese A-29 Super Tucano variant

Lebanon sealed a deal for 6 A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft at $462 millions back in 2015. The announcement of the deal confirmed some parts of the expected specifications & armaments, but also raised questions about other much required capabilities (i.e. will it support Hellfire?) and about the higher cost compared to other A-29 deals (Ex. Nigeria and Afghanistan). As per the announcement, the aircraft will be equipped with ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispensing Systems, AN/AAR-60(V)2 Missile Launch Detection Systems, and non-SAASM Embedded Global Positioning System/Initial Navigation System (EGIs). Besides they will support the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS).

A record in the [US] Federal Register however gives clear details on the complete specifications. The Lebanese variant will be equipped with MX–15 Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR) Laser sensor suite (same as those on the AC-208B Combat Caravan) and will be capable of employing the following systems mounted on its six external hard points:

• AGM–114M3, N3, & R5 Hellfire missiles

1. M3 is blast fragmentation variant
2. N3 is thermometric variant
3. R5 is a variant of Hellfire Romeo - multi-function warhead

• 2.75′′ rockets (MK4, MK40, MK 66, Hydra 70)
• GBU-12 Paveway II - Mk 82 500 lb (227 kg) bomb
• GBU-58 Paveway II - Mk 81 250 lb (113.4 kg) bomb
• APKWS II
• FN HMP-400 .50 caliber gun pods

In addition "critical cockpit, fuel system and engine components" will have aircraft armor (probably from TenCate) able to withstand small arms fire.

With the AGM-114 Hellfire support, the Lebanese variant could be considered the most advanced variant of the A-29 Super Tucano as this capability was not previously supported. Providing this capability is most likely part of the higher cost reported.

The training of Lebanese pilots already started earlier in 2017. We hope to see the Lebanese Air Force flying Super Tucanos in action very soon!

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Has the time for LAF M2 Bradley arrived?

The Al-Akhbar Lebanese newspaper quoted the new LAF commander Gen. Joseph Aoun referring to upcoming US arms deliveries: "US assistance consisting of shells, missiles, new APCs, and artillery will arrive soon". (Ref)

The most common APC operated by the Lebanese Army is the M113 with more than 1,300 vehicles of different variants & derivatives acquired from difference sources. Lebanon has been receiving this APC for years with 200 more delivered in 2013 and 30 in 2015.

Lebanon does not however operate the M113A3 Gavin, which could be considered "new" APC by the LAF standard, yet, does Lebanon need more basic APCs? Isn't Lebanon looking for better armored and more lethal vehicles? Isn't Lebanon looking for IFV not APC?

The, derived, answer is yes, Lebanon needs and is looking for IFVs, we can conclude this from two main events.

The Belgian Deal 2009
Lebanon had a one of a kind opportunity to procure ex-Belgium AIFV-B-C25 from Belgium at ~56,000 EUR per vehicle including spare parts and ammunition (Ref).  Lebanon took this opportunity and acquired 16 vehicles which were later combat proven during battles with ISIS and JAN.

DONAS
The DONAS agreement (status unknown, but most likely cancelled) is another opportunity where Lebanon tried to acquire IFVs. The deal included VAB infantry combat vehicle (ICV) variant (ref). 

Besides these two, the LAF has been attempting to upgrade the armor & protection of its M113. We have seen variants being exhibited or in operations with cage & locally made cupola shields that is completed closed.

Back to what the commander mentioned; should we conclude that he actually meant IFVs, not, yet, just another number of M113 APCs? If so, is it the M2 Bradley given than IAV Stryker is not a vehicle being phased out?  Until further information, let's keep our hopes for the M2 Bradley.

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)