Defense`s Feeds

Americas

Boeing won a $3.5 billion deal for the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Program. The contract will provide support and sustainment services to the government product support manager/product support integrator for the C-17 weapon system. The contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, NATO Airlift Management Program Office, India, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Support includes: program management; sustaining logistics; material and equipment management; sustaining engineering; quality assurance; depot level aircraft maintenance and modifications; F117 propulsion system management; long-term sustainment planning; field services, unique foreign military customer services and Air Logistics Center partnering support for the worldwide fleet of the C-17 aircraft. Estimated completion date is May 30, 2031.

Boeing won a $9.3 million contract modification for F-15C and F-15E mission training centers (MTC). The modification provides for updates to the F-15 MTC training systems to achieve service objectives associated with implementation of F-15C/E Aircraft Mission Package-20. Work will take place in Idaho, North Carolina, the UK and Japan.

Middle East & Africa

Iraq is planning to acquire a dozen JF-17 fighter aircraft from Pakistan and has reportedly set aside $600 million for the procurement, as per local media reports. Unconfirmed reports claimed that a delegation from Iraq’s Ministry of Defense recently visited Pakistan, while a formal agreement is expected to be signed in the country’s federal capital in October. The deal was reportedly made during the visit of Deputy Commander of Iraqi Air Force Major General (Pilot) Muhammad Majeed Mahdi Mahmood’s to Pakistan.

Europe

Boeing won a $756.6 million contract modification, which exercises an option for the production and delivery of five Lot 12 P-8A aircraft for the government of Germany. Work will take place in Washington, California and other locations within the US. Estimated completion will be in February 2025. In July 2021, Berlin signed a letter of offer and acceptance for five Boeing P-8As under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process.

France’s Naval Group is likely to bag a contract valued approximately €5 billion to provide FDI (Belharra) frigates and Gowind corvettes to the Hellenic Navy. According to La Tribune, the deal will include delivery of three each of FDI and Gowind warships with an option for one more.

Asia-Pacific

A new version of the Akash Missile – ‘Akash Prime’ developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been flight tested from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha on September 27. The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target mimicking enemy aircrafts, in its maiden flight test after improvements.

Today’s Video

Watch: US P-8A Poseidon Aircraft Conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise

Americas

Boeing won a $16 million deal for spare parts in support of the AH-64 Apache weapon system. The Apache is a twin-engined army attack helicopter. The Apache attack helicopter can be equipped with air-to-air missiles (Stinger, AIM-9 Sidewinder, Mistral and Sidearm) and the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS), formerly known as Hydra, family of guided and unguided 70mm rockets.

Boeing won a $158.3 million contract modification for VC-25B Spares Phase 1 – Long Lead Parts. This contract modification is for the VC-25B initial spares with a production lead time of greater than 12 months that are required for the initial support period, which is the first 18 months beginning at initial operational capability. VC-25B, the next “Air Force One,” is a program to design, modify, test, and deliver two aircraft replacing the current VC-25A and will serve as a flying White House for the next thirty years. Work will take place in Maryland. Estimated completion date is January 15, 2025.

Middle East & Africa

According to some press reports, Morocco is set to be the newest operator of the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW). The reports further added that the weapons have been delivered to the country.

Europe

The US Air Force has awarded Rolls-Royce a $2.6 billion contract to replace the engines on its B-52H Stratofortress bomber fleet. The F130 engine for the B-52, which produces 17,000 pounds of thrust, is a variant of the Rolls-Royce BR725 commercial engine.

Russian company Rostec-owned Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering has begun mass production of unified systems designed to protect latest military equipment against high-precision weapons. The product is designed to protect the TOS-2 heavy flamethrower system, the PRP-5 reconnaissance vehicle, as well as the Zavet-D automated artillery control systems, the state-owned company said in a statement.

Asia-Pacific

PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero) (PTDI) and Turkish company Hava Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.?. (HAVELSAN) agreed to jointly develop a simulator for N219 aircraft. A Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to the same was signed during Teknofest 2021 in Istanbul by the President Director of PTDI, Dr. Ir. Elfien Goentoro, MBA and CEO of HAVELSAN, Dr. Mehmet Active Nacar.

Today’s Video

Watch: The Next Presidential Jet: The New $5B “Biden Force One”

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $14.8 million contract modification, which is adding scope to provide depot level repair capabilities for the F-35 gun system in support of F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial production Lot 11 aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) is a stealthy, supersonic multirole fighter developed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and programme partners from the NATO and US allies. Work will take place in Varmint, Texas and Maine. Expected completion will be in November 2024.

AAR Services won a $14.2 million deal for maintenance and overhaul of the CH-47. The Chinook CH-47F is an advanced multi-mission helicopter manufactured by American aerospace and defense firm Boeing for the US Army and international defense forces. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of September 23, 2026.

Middle East & Africa

Turkish engine producer Erin Motor on Thursday introduced a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) while drone-maker Baykar launched a Vertical take-off drone at the Teknofest event in Istanbul. The company showcased two types of UAV engines, 6-hp and 11-hp, which can be used in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs with wingspans of up to five meters (16.4 feet) for a wide range of drones and related payloads.

Europe

Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace has cut the first steel for the first of the Royal Navy’s five new Type 31 frigates, HMS Venturer. Hosted at Babcock’s facility in Rosyth, Scotland, where the Type 31 Inspiration class ships are being built, representatives from across UK and international industry and public service, witnessed the historic ceremony signalling the official start of the build programme alongside employees and representatives from the local community.

Asia-Pacific

The Republic of China Army (ROCA) Aviation and Special Forces Command announced officially on September 25 that the plan to deploy AH-64Es at Taitung’s Fengnian airport has been abandoned. This is due to opposition from the local populace over noise issues. The residents were also concern over the safety of the rotor craft. The Army wants its AH-64E pilots to familiarize themselves with the terrain on the east side of the island. By stationing at Fengnian, the helicopters can be serviced there.

Indian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Airbus Defense and Space, Spain for acquisition of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft on September 24, 2021. The MoD has also signed an Offset Contract with Airbus through which the company will discharge its offset obligations through direct purchase of eligible products and services from Indian Offset Partners. These contracts were signed following the approval accorded by the Cabinet Committee on Security earlier this month.

Today’s Video

Watch: UK’s First Type 31 frigate, first steel cut for HMS Venturer the royal navy’s newest warship

Americas

Oshkosh Defense won a $10 million contract modification for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Family of Vehicles. The JLTV Family of Vehicles (FoV) is the Marine Corps and Army partial replacement for the High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) fleet. Work will take place in Wisconsin. Estimated completion date is November 30, 2022.

Raytheon Intelligence & Space has introduced a lightweight, affordable AESA radar in its lightest form factor ever. In addition to being a third of the weight of most modern AESA radars, the new compact radar also costs about half as much as typical fire control radars. Gallium Nitride technology is combined with an innovative packaging of its digital receiver/exciter and processor called CHIRP, and a unique air-cooled design.

Middle East & Africa

IMCO Group acquired Innocon Ltd., a company that manufactures Micro, Mini and Tactical unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as well as mission systems for manned light airplanes. IMCO Group’s subsidiary acquired Innocon’s assets and activities for $938,000, plus an additional amount equal to 25% of the subsidiary’s net profit during 72 months from January 1, 2022, and up to a total and cumulative ceiling of $547,000.

Turkey reportedly handed over first units of Bayraktar TB2 combat drones to Morocco last week. The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (Far-Maroc) signed an agreement with Turkish drone maker Baykar Savunma for 13 Bayraktar TB2s in April. The contract was worth $70 million.

Europe

Norwegian mechanical engineering company Ritek has agreed to perform vehicle integration of Ground Master 200 multi-mission compact radars (GM200 MM/C) under an agreement signed with Thales. The Norwegian Defense Material Agency (NDMA) signed an agreement with the Netherlands Defense Material Organisation (DMO) for the five counter-battery radars in May 2021. Ritek will perform the vehicle integration of these radars, Thales said in a statement today.

Asia-Pacific

General Dynamics Land Systems won a $13.8 million contract modification for Abrams systems and technical support. The first M1 Abrams battle tanks were delivered to the US Army in 1980. The M1 is equipped with a Honeywell AGT 1500 gas turbine engine. The Allison X-1100-3B transmission provides four forward and two reverse gears. Fiscal 2020 and 2021 other procurement, Army funds; fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales (Australia) funds; and fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $13,743,076 were obligated at the time of the award. Work will take place in Michigan. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2022.

Today’s Video

Watch: The Ground Master 200 (GM200) – Thales

Americas

Vertex Aerospace won a $96.5 million contract modification, which increases the contract ceiling to extend organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance, logistics, and engineering support, to include support of equipment, tools, direct and indirect material for the T-45 aircraft, associated systems, and related support equipment to maintain all flight and test and evaluation operations for the Navy. Work will take place in Texas, Mississippi, Florida and Maryland. Estimated completion will be in December 2021.

Northrop Grumman won a $30.9 million deal to procure 25 Link 16 B kits; three Link 16 B kit spares; and two Link 16 flight training device B kits in support of UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopter modification efforts for the Navy.  This contract also provides Link-16 systems engineering, program management, and logistics support. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion will be in September 2023.

Middle East & Africa

Sudanese authorities said they thwarted a coup attempt on Tuesday by a group of soldiers. The authorities accused plotters loyal to the country’s longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir of a failed bid to derail the revolution that removed him from power in 2019. The plotters allegedly used tanks to close a bridge connecting Khartoum with Omdurman, just across the River Nile. They also reportedly tried to take control of state radio in Omdurman.

Europe

The UK Government approved the support through the ‘Military Assistance to the Civil Authority’ process, following a request from the Scotland Office, working with Scottish Government. The Ministry of Defense will provide 114 people to augment ambulance drivers and a further 111 personnel who will operate Mobile Testing Units which the military previously supported in 2020.

Asia-Pacific

UDN reports that Taiwan is preparing to publicly unveil the Lieh-Sun or Hunt Falcon mobile short-range air defense system during the National Day parade on October 10. The system uses the Tien Chien Two air-to-air missile.
Boeing selected Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia to set up the company’s first aircraft assembly facility of its kind outside of North America to produce the Boeing Airpower Teaming System drones (also known as Loyal Wingman). The announcement comes days after Australia abrogated a deal with France to build conventionally-powered submarines opting instead to build nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with the US and the UK.

Today’s Video

Watch: The Bell UH-1Y Venom Utility helicopter

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $49.3 million deal. The contract provides for overhaul of the B-52 Counter Measure Receiver. The B-52H is the US Air Force’s long-range, large-payload multirole bomber. The B-52H Stratofortress is equipped with a range of electronic warfare equipment. The ITT AN/ALQ-172(V)2 electronic countermeasures system features multi-band threat recognition and multiple threat jamming. Work will take place ein New York. Estimated completion date is September 19, 2026.

The US Air Force has started flying operational missions with the Collins Aerospace’s MS-177 multi-spectral imaging (MSI) sensor on the RQ-4B Block 30 aircraft. The MS-177 is derived from the Senior Year Electro-optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS)-2C flown on the U-2.

Middle East & Africa

With the Ongoing discussions on the new Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) between Athens and Washington, Greece has insisted on creating a naval base at Souda on Crete. The new base is to a part of the efforts of Greece to establish a more permanent presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, Kathimerini reported.

Europe

Babcock won the first export contract for its Arrowhead 140 frigate through a design license agreement with PT PAL Indonesia, a state-owned enterprise that builds and maintains ships for military and commercial use from its facilities in Surabaya, Indonesia. The UK is using a similar design, basing its Type 31 Frigates on the Arrowhead 140 design, being built by Babcock at Rosyth.

Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann partnered with Dutch company Defenture to build new tactical vehicles to replace the German Army’s two decades-old vehicles. Both companies signed a letter of intent. The companies plan to develop a vehicle based on Defenture’s VECTOR (Versatile Expeditionary Commando Tactial Off Road) light all-terrain tactical vehicle.

Asia-Pacific

The twin surface-to-surface missile launches by North Korea on September 15 were made from a train, the country’s media has revealed. Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state news agency of North Korea, confirmed a day later that those missiles came from the country’s test of its new “railway-borne missile system.” The report claimed that the missiles flew 800 km (~500 miles) before striking a target in the sea off North Korea’s east coast.

Today’s Video

Watch: Detailed tour through a B-52 Stratofortress!!

Americas

Ball Aerospace won a $9.7 million contract of the B-2 Antenna Electronics Unit. The B-2 is a low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defense shields. Work will take place in Colorado. Expected completion date September 16, 2026.

Lockheed Martin has announced that the LMXT is being built in response to the US Air Force’s KC-Y Program. The new tanker builds on the design of the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor and works directly to implement US Air Force-specific requirements within the LMXT. The plane will be equipped with a fully automatic boom and air-to-air refueling system

Middle East & Africa

Rolls-Royce won a $194 million deal to supply upgraded power packs for Israel’s fleet of military ground transport vehicles to fulfill a foreign military sales requirement. Israel requested to procure 270 NPPLTs in full and light configurations in February 2019 under an approximately $238 million FMS deal. Work will take place in Michigan. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2021.

Europe

According to the New York Times, a 7.62mm MAG light machine gun mounted on a remote weapon station made by the Belgian firm FN Herstal was used in the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh on November 27, 2020 in Absard near Tehran.

BAE Systems has acquired In-Space Missions, a UK company that designs, builds and operates satellites and satellite systems. According to BAE, that this acquisition is part of their strategy to develop breakthrough technologies, “pursuing bolt-on acquisitions where they complement existing capabilities and provide an opportunity to accelerate technology development in key areas, as evidenced with recent acquisitions such as Prismatic, Techmodal and PPM Ltd”.

Asia-Pacific

The Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles performed over Kunsan Air Base, South Korea for the first time on September 9. “As a former Thunderbird, current base commander, and longtime partner to the Airmen of the Republic of Korea Air Force, it has been incredible to watch the Black Eagles perform here at Kunsan,” said US Air Force Col. John Gallemore, 8th Fighter Wing commander.

Today’s Video

Watch: BAE Systems acquires UK satellite firm In-Space Missions

Americas

J.I. Gascia Construction won a $7.6 million task order under a multiple award construction contract for a design-build KC-46A mission planning center at Travis Air Force Base, California.The work to be performed will provide a facility to support KC-46A mission planning. The contract contains four options, which requires the contractor to repair sewer line, construct the window infill, perform hazardous material remediation, and construct physical security upgrades at the mechanical yard. The KC-46A is a wide-body, multi-mission aircraft capable of transporting fuel, cargo, passengers, and patients. Work will take place in California. Expected completion will be by December 2022.

Boeing won a $1.6 billion deal for missile guidance repair. The deal will repair the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) missile guidance set. In June, Northrop Grumman won a US Air Force Propulsion Subsystem Support Contract with a $2.3 billion ceiling that will provide engineering and maintenance services for Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, helping to extend the aging Cold War nuclear weapon system’s life for the next 18.5 years. Work under the new contract will take place in Ohio. Estimated completion date is September 27, 2039.

Middle East & Africa

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible FMS to the Saudi Arabia of continuation of maintenance support services (MSS) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $500 million. The supplier is unknown at this time. Saudi Arabia has requested to buy the continuation of the MSS contract that supports the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command’s fleet of AH-64D/E, UH-60L/M, Schweizer 333, and Bell 406CS, as well as the future fleet of CH-47F Chinook.

Analysts say the United Arab Emirates could look into the purchase of Rafale fighters from France again as the Gulf State aims to diversify its weapons supply base and reduce its reliance on the United States. On Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammedbin Zayed met French President Emmanuel Macron over lunch at the Fontainebleau Palace, east of Paris.

Europe

BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce will undertake concept and design work for new Royal Navy nuclear submarines. Two contracts worth $116.7 million each have been awarded to BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce to deliver design and concept work for a future Class of Royal Navy submarine.

Asia-Pacific

The Indian Air Force is about to spend $31 million to acquire 24 second-hand Mirage 2000 fighters to bolster its fleet and create a spare parts pool. Hindustan Times says eight of those aircraft are ready to fly after servicing and 13 aircraft in the consignment are flyable. The rest can be used to generate spares for the fleet.

Today’s Video

Watch: What is an intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM )?

Americas

Three US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers returned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri after a deployment to Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, that included a dozen multinational missions over the past month. The bombers, from the 509th Bomb Wing, left Iceland on Saturday, the Air Force announced.

The Marines are moving forward with developing a ship-killing missile that’s central to a long-range restructuring of the military, the Marine Corps said. The Marine Corps Systems Command’s Long Range Fires program has acquired Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, an anti-ship missile that meets military requirements and is being tested.

Middle East & Africa

A Turkish KC-135R aerial refueling tanker has returned home after completing the modifications to its flight deck. The Block 45 upgrade replaces old displays, radio altimeter, computer module, autopilot and flight director with new ones. Around 63 of these parts are of high-maintenance or obsolete.

Europe

The Royal Navy currently has two aircraft carriers at sea, both flying F-35 jets. This is something that only one other navy in the world is capable of. Separated by 7,000 miles, HMS Prince of Wales in the North Sea and HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Pacific have been launching and recovering the stealth strike fighter on round-the-clock sorties.

Asia-Pacific

Hours after North Korea tested two surface-to-surface missiles which landed in the East Sea, its arch-enemy Seoul proceeded with a submarine launched ballistic missile test in what appears to be a show of technological superiority. Seoul tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) near its Agency for Defence Development (ADD) in South Chungcheong Province. Delivered to the Navy on August 13, the missile was launched from a 3,000-ton-class Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine on Wednesday.

Raytheon won a $13 million fixed-price incentive, sole-source contract modification under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case with the Japan Ministry of Defense. The contract is to evaluate hardware, inspect all material, repair minor discrepancies, and re-assemble and deliver a Standard Missile-3 Block IB Inert Operating Missile. Work will take place in Arizona. Performance period ist from September 15, 2021 through March 31, 2023.

Today’s Video

Watch: The Unbelievable Power of The B-2 Bomber

First preliminary results of EDA’s Technology Foresight Exercise 2021 are now available in our website: details of the innovative methodology applied, the so-called ‘Futures Narratives’ and some key trends and developments likely to occur in the future. In the meantime, the final analysis of the exercise findings is still underway with the objective to be completed by the end of this year. 

The methodology applied and activities developed throughout 2021 were designed to support the central objective of EDA’s Technology Foresight Exercise: the identification of new technologies, weak signals and innovative trends to support the R&T and capability planning processes and inform future defence policies and programmes of the EU and its Member States. To achieve that, the exercise looked up to 20 years into the future, to provide a strategic vision of the possible impact those new technologies will have on defence in 2040 and beyond.

From Future Narratives to Divergent Thinking to Convergent Thinking 

The exercise stretched over 2021, with successive sessions that brought together different experts, know-how and foresight creativity. Thanks to the wide variety of ideas provided by a multidisciplinary group of foresight experts, so-called ‘Futures Tellers’, multiple possible futures were described in the Futures Narratives. Initially created as food-for-thought to spark the initial discussions among the participating experts, the narratives were meant to widen our vision and imagination about what could be possible towards 2040+, and also what kind of challenges this would entail. Descriptions of the Futures Narratives are now available on EDA’s dedicated website on the Technology Foresight activities.

Based on these narratives, other experts then engaged into a ‘Divergent Thinking’ process with the aim of narrowing down what the afore-mentioned narratives could potentially mean for security and defence in the future.  As a result, a set of 14 key challenges and developments has been identified, providing a general and high-level a vision of the future in 2040. A summary of the Divergent Thinking results are also available on the exercise website.

Final analysis still ongoing

The security and defence-related trends identified in the Divergent Thinking process are currently being analysed and converged into clusters (‘Convergent Thinking’ process) with the aim to deduct from them hints about potential disruptive technologies and innovations that will be needed in the future to cope with those developments. A report about the final outcome of the whole foresight exercise is due to be published before the end of this year. 

Next steps

The exercise findings will eventually:  

• provide a high-level, long-term vision on multiple possible futures with defence relevance, with a special focus of the impact of emerging disruptive technologies;
• inform the 2022 review of the EU’s Capability Development Plan (CDP), in particular the CDP’s Strand B (long term);
• produce an input for future updates of the other EDA prioritisation tools such as the Overarching Strategic Research Agenda (OSRA) or the Key Strategic Activities (KSAs), as well as the preparative work for the EU’s Strategic Compass.

Methodology

The exercise was based on a new EDA technology foresight methodology which combines different existing methods and processes, along with best practices and lessons learned from the wider EDA community of foresight practitioners. To facilitate outside-the-box thinking, the methodology foresaw different activities, which were taken place along 2021, involving experts from different international organisations, Ministries of Defence, as, as well as from non-governmental bodies, academia, industry, and civil society. 

 

 

Americas

Alliant Techsystems won a $41.2 million deal, which procures low rate initial production Lot One of the AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER). This contract provides for the production and delivery of 16 AGM-88G AARGM-ER All Up Rounds, six AGM-88G AARGM-ER Captive Air Training Missiles, four Common Munitions BIT Reprogramming Equipment Plus interface devices, initial spares, and required supplies and support. Work will take place in California and West Virginia. Estimated completion will be in March 2024.

Northrop Grumman won a $12.9 million contract modification, which provides for the retrofit of Airborne Electronic Attack Weapons Replacement Assembly with 100 production kits required for the modification of ALQ-218 avionics in support of EA-18G upgrades, to include 64 kits for the Navy, and 36 kits for the government of Australia. Work will take place in Connecticut and New York. Estimated completion will be in November 2023.

Middle East & Africa

The Greek defense ministry held a send off ceremony for the soldiers who are heading to Saudi Arabia to operate a Patriot air defense missile system. The ceremony was held at Tanagra air base.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is integrating Barak MX interceptors on the Navy’s Sa’ar 6 corvettes. IAI’s Barak MX interceptors along with IAI’s complete naval combat suite will provide advanced defense systems to the Sa’ar 6 corvettes. The systems will be used to protect Israel’s exclusive economic zone and strategic facilities that face diversified threats in the marine arena. The Barak MX system was chosen after it was demonstrated to meet the operational requirements and future challenges faced by the Israeli Navy.

Europe

The UK Ministry of Defense awarded BAE Systems contracts valued at more than $305 million to deliver advanced synthetic training for pilots training to fly the Typhoon jet. Under the Typhoon Future Synthetic Training (TFST) contracts, BAE Systems is leading work to deliver ten simulators, together with training facilities at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray. The new training environments will be linked together providing an integrated environment for pilots to train and carry out complex combined training exercises using real world mission software and tactics.

Asia-Pacific

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce for Make-in-India Adour engine parts to support the latter’s international defence customer base. India’s Jaguar aircraft are powered by two Adour MK 804 / MK 811 Engines. MK 811 Engines are manufactured from 1981 under license from RR/TM [Rolls Royce Turbomeca].

Today’s Video

Watch: Naval BARAK MX System

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $2 billion contract, which provides logistics support, to include ground maintenance activities, action request resolution, depot activities, automatic logistics information system operations and maintenance, reliability and maintainability, supply chain management, pilot training, maintainer training, and training system sustainment in support of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter air systems for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Foreign Military Sales customers and non-US Department of Defense participants. Work will take place in Texas, Florida, South Carolina and the UK. Estimated completion will be in December 2021.

Crowley Government Services won a $192.4 million deal for services and related contractor-owned, contractor-operated fuel storage facilities with capabilities to receive, store, protect and ship aviation grade JP-5 turbine fuel and commercial grade Jet A-1 fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with five responses received. Work will take place in Florida and Australia. Estimated completion date is September 12, 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Contrack Watts won a $26.9 million deal for design and construction of a non-permanent modular billeting facility at Prince Sultan Air Base. Work will take place in Saudi Arabia. Estimated completion date is September 11, 2023. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled a multi-mission unmanned land vehicle REX MK II to aid and protect ground forces in the field of battle. The multi-mission REX MK II is a hybrid electric platform with all wheel drive and has the ability to carry a load of 1.3 tons. It is intended to support infantry ground forces in various stages of fighting. This includes providing logistical assistance to troops by carrying munition supplies, critical medical equipment, water, and food, as well as evacuating injured personnel on stretchers.

Europe

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko revealed that plans are being formulated to purchase more than $1 billion worth of weapons from Russia. He added that potential supplies of S-400 missile systems to the country are being discussed.

Asia-Pacific

Elbit Systems has won contracts valued $56 million to supply Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities to the Navy of a country in Asia-Pacific. The contracts will be performed over a 12-month period. Elbit Systems will provide the Seagull USVs (Unmanned Surface Vessels) configured to perform ASW missions and the Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar (TRAPS) systems.

Today’s Video

Watch: IAI Unveils REX MK II Multi-Mission Unmanned Land Vehicle…

Americas

The US Marine Corps has acquired its first MQ-9 unmanned air vehicle (UAV) and assigned it to VMU-1. The transfer took place at MCAS Yuma, Arizona on August 30 and the aircraft is currently operated by the contractor.

The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $26 million contract for Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) spares for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide Beamforming Networks (BFNs), an integral part of antenna control for the AN/APX-122A IFF Interrogator system, onboard the carrier-capable tactical aircraft.

Middle East & Africa

During the last few weeks, the US has removed its most advanced air defense system, the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system, as well as Patriot missile batteries from Saudi Arabia. Spokesmen for the Pentagon and the Saudi Defense Ministry confirmed the removal of the air defense systems. According to AP, images taken on Friday by satellite imagery company Planet Labs showed that the area of the air base where the systems were previously located is now empty, and there is no activity of any kind.

Europe

Greece has ordered six more Rafale fighters, bring the total number ordered to 24. The announcement was made by French Defense Minister Florence Parly. It is said that the fighters ordered are the F3R variant.

Ukrainian Zorya-Mashproekt Gas Turbine Research and Development Complex, a state-owned enterprise inked a contract with India’s Goa Shipyard Limited for supply of two latest generation M7H2 engines to power warships of the country’s Navy. The turbo-power units are to be installed in new multi-purpose frigates, which will soon be built at the Indian shipyard.

Asia-Pacific

North Korea’s state-run media disclosed that the country has tested a new type of long-range cruise missile on September 11 and 12. Information from North Korea says the new weapon can fly for more than two hours and a range of over 1,500 km.

Today’s Video

Watch: How Do Tomahawk Cruise Missile Work?

Americas

Lockheed Martin Missiles won a $101.3 million contract modification for procurement of Hellfire missiles and containers. Hellfire is an air-to-ground, laser guided, subsonic missile with significant anti-tank capacity. It can also be used as an air-to-air weapon against helicopters or slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft. It has also been fielded on surface platforms in the surface-to-surface and surface-to-air roles. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2024.

Northrop Grumman won a $28.7 million contract modification, which provides for the procurement of one additional G/ATOR system for the Air Force. The G/ATOR program is managed within the portfolio of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. G/ATOR is an expeditionary, three-dimensional, short-to-medium-range, multi-role radar system designed to detect low-observable targets with low radar cross sections such as rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles, and UAVs. Estimated completion will be in January 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Meteor Aerospace, a privately-owned producer of unmanned systems and advanced missiles, have recently signed a memorandum of understanding to promote mutual cooperation. Under the agreement, the companies will cooperate in developing advanced offensive systems. The agreement also includes joint investment in R&D, including engineering development, as well as joint marketing.

Europe

THEON Sensors won a contract for the supply of THERMIS CS thermal imaging systems following a recent international tender by the UK Ministry of Defense for the procurement and support of Sniper In-Line Low Light System (SILLS) – Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) Thermal Sight Weapon Sight 2.

Asia-Pacific

India’s Cabinet Committee on Security has decided on September 8 to clear the way for the purchase of 56 C295 transport aircraft. It also approves the conversion of six A319 airliners from Air India into airborne early warning (AEW) platforms. Forty of those C295s will be built in India by Airbus along with Tata. The conversion of the A319s means that India has abandoned plans to acquire A330s from Airbus for the early warning project.

The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has contracted Daewoo Shipbuilding to build a 3,600-ton-class submarine – the country’s largest and most advanced ever – with the capability to launch ballistic missiles from vertical launchers. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the signing of a 985.7 billion won (US$853 million) contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. on Friday to build a new 3,600-ton-class submarine equipped with vertically launched SLBMs.

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Watch: Why AGM 114 Hellfire missile becomes one of America’s favorite missiles

Americas

The Ross Group won a $10.6 million deal, which provides services for the phased demolition and construction of selected Ramp 200 and 300 fuel hydrants for KC-46A aircraft. The new work includes, but is not limited to, modify the current aircraft parking layout, demolish four existing aircraft direct fueling stations, demolish and replace six aircraft direct fueling stations suitable for KC-46A aircraft refueling operations, modify the existing fuel piping laterals, demolish and replace aircraft rated pavement on Ramps 200 and 300, as required, to demolish and install new hydrant pits and fuel piping, provide mooring points at all KC-46A parking spaces, and re-stripe aircraft parking positions and movement lanes on the 200 and 300 ramps. The KC-46A is a wide-body, multi-mission aircraft capable of transporting fuel, cargo, passengers, and patients. Work will take place in California and is expected to be finished by September 2022.

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded L-3 Communications $173 million to support its Airborne Sensors (ABS) program. The primary objective of the ABS Mission Operations program is to provide airborne electro-optic and infrared sensor capabilities to support MDA and other test activities. Work will take place in Oklahoma. The ordering period will September 2021 through September 2026.

Middle East & Africa

According to Defense News, Israel received its fourth and final Sa’ar 6 warship as the country implements a new naval doctrine aimed at bolstering defensive capabilities in its exclusive economic zone. Israel has been receiving the ships since November 2020.

Europe

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is likely to sign contracts with Serbia and Poland for Spike LR2 fifth generation missiles. “We are acting in Serbia together with state-owned defense products manufacturer Jugoimport-SDPR and we are working on the promotion of Spike LR2 rockets,” Al Zaher, regional director for Rafael, told Serbian public broadcaster RTS last week.

Asia-Pacific

Troops from Russia’s Central Military Region’s air defense brigade carried out live firing of missiles from the Buk-M3 air defense missile system at the Kapustin Yar proving ground. The tactical exercise involving live fire practice will end late September.

The Australian Department of Defense signed the acceptance certificate of NUSHIP Stalwart, the second of the two Supply class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ships built by Navantia Ría de Ferrol for the Royal Australian Navy, today. The acceptance of NUSHIP Stalwart on August 30 follows two months’ of fit-out activities carried out at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Before its formal acceptance, NUSHIP Stalwart completed its final sea trials. Verifications and demonstrations of the Combat, Communications and Navigation Systems conducted on August 22 reached a high degree of customer satisfaction in all areas.

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Watch: IAI Integrates Naval Combat Suite on Sa’ar 6 Corvettes

Americas

Sikorsky Aircraft won an $11.9 million contract modification, which provides non-recurring engineering to include investigations, systems engineering support, risk analysis and integration development in support of the CH-53K Data Transfer Unit and Defensive Electronic Countermeasure System Replacement Phase III, to replace existing subsystems within the CH-53K production aircraft. The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. Work will take place in Maryland, Connecticut, Iowa, Texas and Vermont. Expected completion date is in June 2024.

Honeywell International won a $9.4 million order for the procurement of the embedded Global Position System/Inertial Navigation Systems in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. The F/A-18 is a twin-engine multi-role combat aircraft. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion will be by April 2023.

Middle East & Africa

Navantia began sea trials of NB 546 Al-Jubail, first of the five Avante 2200 corvettes for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). The trials are being conducted in the Bay of Cádiz and all the ship systems are being tested. The trial is expected to last a total of two months, divided into two different periods. The current trial period will last about two weeks. Some 140 people participate in them.

Europe

Saab has signed a $116.5 million contract for the delivery of several live training systems and services to the Polish Armed Forces. The deal covers the supply of a complete live training solution for a reinforced mechanised battalion and four training centres for company size units. The contract period is 2021 to 2026 including support over a period of three years.

General Atomics Aeronautical won a deal for the Italy Mid-Life Modernization (MLM) Lot 1 MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft and Block 30 Mobile Ground Control Station (MGCS) procurement. The Block 5 system is designed to operate for more than 27 hours, fly at a speed of 240 knots and carry up to 3,850 pounds of payload. Work will take place in California. Expected completion date is January 31, 2023.

Asia-Pacific

An article by Intelligence Online says IAI has beaten Airbus and Thales in a four-year race to supply a military observation satellite to Vietnam. “While the French contenders have been busy infighting, Israel Aerospace now seems poised to win a contract to supply a military observation satellite to Vietnam”, it says.

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Watch: Ready for Training: U.S. Marines Learning CH-53K King Stallion

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $25.8 million deal, which provides non-recurring engineering for the development, integration, testing, and deployment of the MH-60 Product Line System Configuration 24 fleet release for all MH-60 air platform variants, to include baseline management integrated management planning, integrated development environment support, support equipment baseline management, software architect, core lab support, problem trouble report legacy support, engineering tools support, and development aircraft support for the Navy and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. The MH-60R Seahawk missions are Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Surveillance, Communications Relay, Combat Search and Rescue, Naval Gunfire Support and logistics support. Work will take place in New York, Australia and Denmark. Expected completion date is in August 2024.

The US Army has carried out flight tests with a new wide field-of-view helmet-mounted display (HMD) that could be fielded on the AH-64E. The new high-definition, binocular see-thru HMD allows the pilot to see around and below the aircraft to create a transparent cockpit. The system was demonstrated on an AH-64E Version 6 over 23 flights. A total of 17 pilots from Redstone Test Center (RTC), 101st Airborne Division, and the Army Capability Management – Recon Attack participated in the testing.

Middle East & Africa

According to Israel Defense, MCTECH unveiled the MC-HORIZON D360BP, a multi-layered manpack system designed to protect against UAVs. The reactive system can identify drones, acquire the targets, and neutralize them automatically from far distances. A number of such systems were delivered last week to the army of an African country, according to the company.

Europe

French and German defense ministers signed the second Franco-German intergovernmental cooperation agreement in the field of tactical air transport on August 30, 2021. It aims to create a bi-national squadron and a training center at the Evreux air base,France with a view to operating a fleet of C-130J planes. This signature will allow the formal establishment of the Franco-German squadron on 1 st September 2021.

Asia-Pacific

The Indian Army reportedly placed an order for nearly 100 explosive-laden SkyStriker loitering munitions. The drones will be supplied by a joint venture between Bengaluru-based Alpha Design and Israeli firm Elbit Systems. Alpha owns 51% of the JV. The contract valued INR 100 Crore ($13.7 million) was signed on September 1, the Times of India reported.

The Indian Air Force has inked an agreement with the US Air Force recently to co-develop air-launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The agreement marks the first co-development project under the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative. The US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) will work with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for this project.

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Watch: King of the Sky | The Navy’s Largest Helicopter [MH-53]

Americas

Harper Construction won a $101.7 million construction contract for design and construction of an F-35C hangar addition at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The project will include the construction of a two-module addition in support of F-35C operational squadrons. It will construct an aircraft parking apron and marshalling area, access apron and shoulders, taxiway connections and associated lighting, and construct an alternate mission equipment storage facility. The hangar addition will be constructed with reinforced concrete masonry unit, structural steel frames, metal deck and pile foundation. The work to be performed includes design and construction of the F-35C hangar addition to Hangar 6. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion will be by March 2024.

Lockheed Martin won a $12.6 million deal to exercise options for Aegis design agent field engineering services. Services include test and evaluation, engineering change development, ordnance/ship alterations, modernization engineering, logistics and technical support, ordnance alterations kit development, integration and test support, AN/SPY-1 series radar antenna refurbishment and Coast Guard deep-water program design agent field engineering support. The services are in support of Aegis-equipped CGs and DDGs, allied Aegis-equipped ships, and Coast Guard Aegis-configured ships. Work will take place in Virginia, California and Florida. Estimated completion will be by September 2022.

Middle East & Africa

According to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), it has resumed the production of F-16 wings for Lockheed Martin, using an assembly line established in the 1980s. IAI recently reopened the production line following increased worldwide demand for the F-16 Block 70/72. IAI will produce F-16 wings that will be shipped to the F-16 final assembly line in Greenville, South Carolina, according to the company.

Europe

Northrop Grumman won a $50 million modification for Integrated Battle Command Systems hardware and software. The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System is intended is to integrate the communications between weapon launchers, radars, and the operators, allowing an air defense unit to fire its interceptors using information provided by the radar of another. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales (Poland) funds in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award. Work will take place in Alabama. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2025

Finnish firm Patria won an order to deliver 200 6×6 armoured vehicles to Latvia. The contract also covers provision of support and training systems. Deliveries will take place between 2021 and 2029. The joint programme is open to other countries with the mutual consent of the participating countries. In general, this common vehicle system will improve the mobility, cost-effectiveness, interoperability, and security of supply of armies in the participating countries, the company said in a statement August 30.

Asia-Pacific

Hindustan Aeronautics has completed the spin and night flight testing portion for the HTT-40 basic trainer and the light aircraft will head for certification clearance. Intended to replace the HPT-32 (Hindustan Piston Trainer), the HTT-40 is a basic training aircraft developed for the first stage of the training of rookie pilots in the Indian Air Force.

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Watch: Gigantic Fleet of US C-17 Take Off One by One During Elephant Walk

Americas

Hamilton Sundstrand won a $60 million requirements contract for the repair of the constant frequency generator used on the V-22 aircraft in support of the weapon replaceable assemblies and shop replaceable assemblies programs. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft. The aircraft operates as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. The nacelles rotate 90° forward once airborne, converting the aircraft into a turboprop aircraft. Work under the contract will take place in Illinois. Estimated completion will be by September 2026.

Midnight Sun-Centennial Kirratchiaq won a $19 million deal for providing Simplified Acquisition of Base Civil Engineer Requirements (SABER) support for Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE), Virginia. The deal provides all labor, tools, equipment, transportation, materials, supervision, and all other necessary supplies and services required to perform a broad range of design, minor and new construction, facility repair, and maintenance on real property for JBLE. The Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements (SABER) contract’s main purpose is to expedite contract award of civil engineer requirements through the issuance of individual delivery orders. Work will take place in Virginia. Estimated completion date is August 31, 2026.

Middle East & Africa

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan started the construction of “Crescent Star,” the massive complex for the Turkish army and the Ministry of National Defense, on August 30, in India. The date has a special meaning for the army as it is the 99th anniversary of a battle that cemented the country’s success against invading forces in the aftermath of World War I.

Europe

Russian firm Kronstadt today announced contracts with several foreign countries for shipment of drones in 2022. The models of drones or their numbers were not specified in a statement released by the company as reported by local media.

Asia-Pacific

Northrop Grumman won a $40 million contract modification for the Japan and Republic of Korea Global Hawk Program. It is a cofounded joint Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The contract provides for the co-development, test and integration of the Mode 5 software for the Republic of Korea and Japan Global Hawk fleets. he RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft with an integrated sensor suite that provides global all-weather, day or night intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability. Work will take place in California, Japan and Korea. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2023.

Kazakhstan is now the ninth operator of the Airbus A400M transport with anorder placed for two aircraft this month. The delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled in 2024. The deal includes a complete suite of maintenance and training support. Together with the agreement a Memorandum of Understanding has also been signed to collaborate on Maintenance and Overhaul services and with a first step of creating a local C295 maintenance center.

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Watch: Military Airbus A400 Atlas Full Documentary

Americas

Sikorsky won a $48 million deal, which procures eight spare part and management and delivery of parts in support of the CH-53K low rate initial production configuration aircraft. The CH-53K can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. Work will take place in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, UK, Canada, California and North Carolina. Estimated completion will be in December, 2026.

Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solution won a $17.6 million modification, which procures initial spare parts and aircraft common equipment to support the E-2D Hawkeye Integrated Training Systems flight, tactics, and maintenance devices.The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability. Work will take place in Virginia, Japan and California. Work is expected to be finished by March 2024.

Middle East & Africa

Nigeria has inducted its A-29 attack aircraft into service at Kainji Air Base on August 31. The induction ceremony was hosted by Nigerian Minister of Defence Bashir Salihi Magashi.Gen. Jeff Harrigian, US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander, represented the US Department of Defense.

Europe

Saab announced that it will be demonstrating a new generation of the Combat Boat 90 (CB90) fast assault craft for the first time outside of Sweden. It will be shown from 14-17 September at the DSEI exhibition in London, where visitors will have the opportunity to go aboard to learn more about its new capabilities.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea’s Defense Ministry has submitted its budget request for next year and one of the items on the shopping list is a Counter rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) system. The military is also requesting $9 million for the development of micro-satellites. $392 million out of the $42.4 billion is for the KF-X fighter program.

Japan’s Defense Ministry is seeking a record $50 billion for its budget next year, this represents a 2.6 percent increase from the previous year. Nearly $78 million will be spent on research into high-powered microwave weapons to defeat unmanned aircraft. $35 million will goes into research for hypersonic weapons. Expenses for research and development will add up to nearly $3 billion.

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Watch: E2D Advanced Hawkeye