Defense Industry Daily

The US Marine Corps has used its Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to attack a target ship more than 100 nautical miles away during a test in Hawaii. The actual firing of the Naval Strike Missile was carried out by engineers from Marine Corps Systems Command as the NMESIS is not an operational system yet. Two missiles were launched during the test on August 15.

Raytheon won an $11.5 million order, which provides for the upgrade of 10 AN/APG-79 radars from Configuration A to Configuration B and continuing required efforts to repair Weapons Replaceable Assemblies identified as nonfunctioning following baseline testing. AN/APG-79 provides situational awareness, near-instantaneous track updates, and multi-target tracking capability for Marine Corps combat aircraft. Work will take place in Texas, Mississippi and California. Estimated completion will be in July 2023.

Turkish company Meteksan unveiled its NAZAR System, which provides laser soft-kill capability against Electro-optic (EO) and Infrared (IR) guided missiles. EO/IR guided missiles are increasingly becoming threats to military bases, ammunition depots and civilian strategic facilities due to advancing technologies. The NAZAR system has been developed with the ability to detect EO and IR guided missiles and to apply laser dazzling and soft-kill techniques directed against missiles to neutralize them from long distances.

France has suspended its military co-operation with Ethiopia due to concerns about the conflict in the northern region of Tigray, news agency AFP cited two official sources with knowledge of the issue as saying. They said that a deal agreed by French President Emmanuel Macron and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in March 2019 was suspended at the beginning of July. Under the agreement, France would loan EUR85 million to help Ethiopia set up a navy even though it has been landlocked since Eritrea gained its independence in 1993, AFP reported.

Babcock International won a contract to deliver the installation of a variable speed drive system for the central cooling system on board the Irish Navy’s Samuel Beckett Class ships. The company said in a news release that the variable speed drive system was first installed on the central cooling system of the fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel, LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64), at time of build, enabling the  vessel to use a variety of power outputs depending on the conditions and requirements.

Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) secured a licensing agreement to assemble and test the ASRAAM at its facility in India. The missile manufactures at the Bhanur unit in Telangana will be for both the domestic and foreign markets. The facility might be expanded to include the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of air-to-air missiles in the future.

Watch: Top 10 Most Powerful Fighter Jet Radars (2021)

Sikorsky won a $116.5 million deal for maintenance and overhaul of the Black Hawk main rotor blade. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. The UH-60 Black Hawk, developed by Sikorsky, has been operational in the US Army since 1978. In April 2001, the US Army approved an upgrade programme for more than 1,500 Black Hawks to UH-60M. The UH-60M features new wide chord composite spar main rotor blades, strengthened fuselage and advanced infrared suppression. Estimated completion date for this contract is August 15, 2026.

Integral Aerospace won a $10 million contract for the repair of two parts associated with the 650 gallon fuel tanks in support of the CH-53 aircraft. All work will be performed in Santa Ana, California, and the ordering period is expected to be completed by August 2026. The CH-52 Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter. The marine corps uses the Super Stallion in the amphibious assault role and for transporting heavy equipment. The US Navy also use the Super Stallion for vertical delivery and recovery of damaged aircraft on aircraft carriers.

Turkish UAV manufacturer UAVERA will showcase its new Cagatay VTOL UAV at the 15th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2021 being held in Istanbul TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center between August 17 and August 20. The Cagatay VTOL UAV is a sub-cloud UAV (BIHA) class with 6 hours of flight time and a communication range of up to 150 kilometers. The UAV also is equipped with satellite control, feel-and-avoid, anti-collision, and swarm capabilities.

The Spanish Civil Guard has issued a tender for the supply of a minimum of 3,500 5.56x45mm caliber assault rifles worth about six million euros. Infodefensa reported that the tender also includes the supply of rifle holders, cases with cleaning tools, facemasks, user manuals and 10,500 magazines, with delivery of the rifles and the other items during 2022 and 2023.

Japan’s first KC-46A recently refueled another KC-46A over the state of Washington. “Refueling with the first Japan KC-46A is an important milestone for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force,” Jamie Burgess, KC-46 program manager, said in a statement from Boeing. Japan is the first non-US KC-46A customer, and is scheduled to receive its first tanker later this year.

According to Jane’s, South Korean firm LIG Nex1 announced in late July the completion of sea trials of its Haegum-3 (Sea Sword 3) unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The development work was carried out under the umbrella of a two-year public-private joint venture, called ‘The Coastal Security and the Rapid Response Unmanned Surface Vehicle Civil-Military Technology Commercialization Support Program’, between 2019 and 2021.

Watch: CH-53K King Stallion Takes Flight at MCAS New River

The Defense Department’s Space Development Agency (SDA) plans to launch an experimental payload, developed together with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), to study the infrared background created by the Earth. The experiment is called Prototype Infrared Payload or PIRPL and is foundational for developing DoD capabilities to detect and track dim, fast-flying hypersonic missiles, SDA officials said in a briefing last week.

The US Army says it’s developed a combat-capable prototype of a high-energy laser weapon. According to an army press release, the laser can be mounted on a Stryker military vehicle and used to defend troops against drones as well as rockets, artillery and mortars. Over the summer, the new weapon was successfully tested in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in a “combat shoot-off” against a series of possible combat scenarios.

Two US CH-47 Chinook helicopters arrived in Turkey to aid the country suppress major wildfires. According to a release from the US Ambassador to Turkey, David M. Satterfield, the helicopters along with 18 crew members, arrived Friday at Dalaman Airport in Mugla.

The USS Monterey visited Egypt’s Berenice Naval Base on Thursday, the first time a U.S. warship has pulled into the Red Sea base. The Navy announced the visit to the Berenice Naval Base, which officially opened in January 2020, in a press release.

According to local media, the Cypriot cabinet had recently approved the start of negotiations for the sale of 11 Mi-35P attack helicopters to Serbia. In documents seen by Politis, Cyprus intends to replace the Mi-35P with 12 new attack helicopters. The proposal involves buying six aircraft initially and another six later, over a 10-year period.

Indian state run firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced the completion of Ground Run and Low Speed Taxi Trials (LSTT) of its indigenously developed civilian aircraft Hindustan-228. Hindustan-228 is the first fixed wing aircraft built in India.This is also the company’s first foray into the manufacturing of civilian aircraft with its services being tended to only defence customers till present. The trials were a part of the country’s 75th Independence Day.

Watch: Mil Mi-35P Phoenix in Action

Northrop Grumman won a $8.4 million delivery order for support of the E2-D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft program avionics flight management computers. The E-2D provides broad area coverage resulting in broader range capabilities. With the E-2D’s enhanced ability to work in the littoral and over land, the platform provides a critical capability to protect our nation’s interests. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion date is February 5, 2025.

Great Eastern won a $9.1 modification to exercise and fund the second 12-month option on a firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements for the offshore support vessel Hercules. This vessel will be utilized to support refueling and resupply of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1). The contract includes a 12-month base period, three 12-month option periods, and one 11-month option period. Work will take place in the US Pacific Command’s area of responsibility. Estimated completion date is July 15, 2024.

Ukrainian firm Practika reportedly delivered a batch of Kozak-5 lightweight armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia this year. The Kozak-5 armored vehicle based on 4×4 truck Ford F550, chassis specially enforced (front axle strengthening, suspension and brakes enforcing, bigger wheels installing for armored vehicle building).

QinetiQ supported and hosted ‘At Sea Demonstration/ Formidable Shield’ (ASD/FS), the latest US-led NATO training exercise at MoD Hebrides, Scotland. Responsible for modernizing the base to enable the exercise to take place, QinetiQ say they worked closely with international partners within NATO and made a significant contribution to allies’ abilities to deliver against future threats.

The Tejas Mk1A is to fly by March next year, in a new deadline set by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). HAL’s chairman R Madhavan said the critical design reviews for the mission computer, digital map generator and digital flight control systems are completed.

In its budget proposal for 2022, the Japan’s Ministry of Defense will budget $912 million to acquire 10 F-35 fighters from the US. This is nearly double of what the ministry had budget in 2021 for six aircraft. Japan’s mid-term defense plan is to acquire 27 F-35As and 18 F-35Bs.

Watch: Here Comes the New Upgrade E-2D Hawkeye Cockpit (And Much More)

Textron Systems won an $11.3 million deal for the logistics and repair support of MV-22B, CMV-22 (Navy) and CV-22 (Air Force) Osprey components in support of the Joint Service Electronic Combat Systems Tester system. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopters. Work will take place in Maryland. Estimated completion will be by August 2026.

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a test re-entry vehicle was launched by Airmen from the Global Strike Command on August 11. During this launch, a Hi Fidelity Joint Test Assembly re-entry vehicle that detonated conventional explosives prior to hitting the surface of the water was used. The vehicle landed downrange near Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

According to Defense News, Canadian company Lortie Aviation is entering negotiations to buy five of Lebanon’s Hawker Hunter fighter jets after the Ministry of National Defense held three auctions for the aircraft. The ministry authorized the Lebanese Armed Forces to issue an agreement of consent with the Canadian firm for the sale of the five Hawker Hunters and spare parts.

According to the UK Royal Navy, a new robotic vessel has begun trials with the Royal Navy. The Otter Pro has been put through its paces at the Defense Diving School, on Horsea Island, Portsmouth. The next stage of the trials will see the Otter Pro, from RS Aqua Ltd, tested in a more complex environment and its near-real time data processing will be refined

Unlike global trends where attack drones are equipped primarily with guided weapons, Russia is developing a series of unguided rockets and bombs for use on the aircraft. The project to develop the weapons has received the green light from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Izvestia reported.

Japan reportedly plans to deploy missile units next year on an island that is merely 300 kilometres off the coast of Taiwan. The move is aimed at countering Beijing’s increasing naval presence in an area that carries a history of military disputes, reported Japanese media, adding that the nukes will also help defend against a potential Chinese attack

Watch: US Army Test a ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System Capabilities

$1 million in funding from the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC) has been awarded to RE2 Robotics to develop a robotic system that can autonomously refuel AH-64 Apache helicopters in the field. Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center in Port Hueneme, California, is managing the project entitled Remote Robotic Refueling for Extended Missions (R3EM), which is part of the Autonomous and Robotic Remote Refueling Point (AR3P) program.

Lockheed Martin won a $11 million unpriced letter contract for long-lead material and the labor, planning, and scheduling necessary to support the fiscal 2022 Trident II (D5) missile production schedule. This unpriced letter contract will be definitized on or about October 1, 2021, as a fixed-price-incentive contract. The Trident II D5 fleet ballistic missile is a three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile developed by Lockheed Martin. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2026.

According to Jane’s, Emirati company Milanion Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukrainian Armor to give the latter distribution rights of unmanned ground vehicle Agema. Agema is designed to support a range of missions, including national and civil defense and security; fire and rescue; logistical support; fire support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; anti-tank support; medevac; and route inspection and clearance. The platform can also provide encrypted communications.

Rheinmetall and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E) demonstrated new modules carrying EM&E sensors and weapons systems for the Mission Master SP Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles (A-UGVs). The demonstrations that took place at EM&E’s new facilities in San Juan del Viso in Spain involved two Mission Master A-UGVs.

According to a news release, the defense Science and Technology Laboratory has awarded a $13.1 million contract to In-Space Missions Ltd for the build of the Titania satellite, which will undertake research on the next-generation of communications technology

The Australian government has selected Lockheed Martin Australia and Northrop Grumman Australia to progress to the next round of its fifth-generation Joint Air Battle Management System (JBAMs) competition, to be delivered under the $2 billion Air 6500 Phase 1 project.

Watch: Rheinmetall demonstrates new Mission Master SP modules developed in collaboration with Escribano

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has successfully completed its third and final round of Full Ship Shock Trials. According to the Naval Sea Systems Command statement. The third explosive event was conducted Sunday off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida.

A research paper by a team from the US Air Force Institute of Technology describes how a tanker-centric stereo vision system can be used for automated aerial refueling (AAR). Currently, differential GPS is used so that the tanker and receiver are on a stable flight path for the transfer of fuel. The authors argued that by having a vision-based system can improve the integrity of the process.

Israeli Air Force engineers can now repair damaged runways with Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) mats and anchoring systems thanks to training by US Air Force and Army engineers. The US Air Force’s Rapid Airfield Damage Recovery concept uses the same type of technologies. This was the first time FRP kits were used in such a large crater configuration and the first time the kits were tested using F-35s.

Two British minehunters were decommissioned in Rosyth, Scotland this week. According to the Royal Navy, both Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels have served extensively during careers spanning 21 years and 175,000 miles for Ramsey, 185,000 miles over 20 years for Blyth, supporting operations in the Middle East, around the UK or on NATO duties in northern European and Mediterranean waters. Dozens of affiliates and friends joined the crews, RN leaders and Deputy Chaplain of the Fleet Reverend Martin Evans, with music provided by the Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth.

China’s Hudong Zhonghua shipyard launched the third Type 054 A/P Frigate destined to serve in the Pakistan Navy. “The Launching ceremony of 3rd state-of-the-art Type-054 Class frigate constructed for Pak Navy, was held at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, China. The technologically advance platform is fitted with latest surface, subsurface, anti-air weapons, combat management system & sensors,” the Pakistan Navy tweeted last week.

During a recent voyage of the Chinese Liaoning aircraft carrier, a batch of Instructor-Pilots were certified for night operations paving the way for rapid induction of naval aviators into the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. In a test conducted on a windy night with fierce sea waves in the Bohai Sea, several pilot instructors from PLA Naval Aviation University steered J-15 fighter jets and landed on the flight deck of Liaoning.

Watch: Meet Royal Navy’s Sandown Class Minehunter

Raytheon won a $482.8 million contract modification, which provides for the exercise of the pre-priced options for Lot 35 production of AMRAAM missiles, AMRAAM Telemetry System, initial and field spares, and other production engineering support hardware and activities. The AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) is a new generation all-weather, missile. Work will take place in Arizona. Estimated completion date is May 31, 2024.

Sikorsky won a $26.9 million contract modification for UH-60M green aircraft. The UH-60 Black Hawk has been operational in the US Army since 1978. More than 2,000 aircraft of different variants are in service with the U.S., and more than 600 have been exported. The primary mission of the Black Hawk helicopter is as a troop carrier and logistical support aircraft, but the helicopter can also be configured to carry out medical evacuation, command-and-control, search-and-rescue, armed escort, electronic warfare and executive transport missions. Work will take place in Connecticut. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2022.

Turkish state-owned defense firm ASFAT has received an order for four unmanned minesweeping equipment to Burkina Faso. “We made our first defense industry export to the region with the sale of 4 Mechanical Mine Clearing Vehicle,” the company announced in a Tweet. Earlier, ASFAT exported the vehicles’ sale to Azerbaijan where it is being used to clean its lands of mines.

The UK Ministry of Defense awarded BAE Systems approximately $348.77million to progress the design and development of Tempest, the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The British Future Combat Air Programme, Tempest, is expected to create 20,000 jobs every year from 2026 to 2050, and contribute £25 billion to the UK economy.

Taiwan has concluded the signing of the contract to buy the MS-110 reconnaissance pod, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on July 28. A total of six pods will be procured for the island’s F-16 fleet.

The Indian Air Force has inducted its second Rafale unit – 101 Squadron – at Hasimara Air Base on July 28. The second squadron is being raised at Hasimara Air Force Station in West Bengal. The first squadron—17 Golden Arrows—was raised in Ambala, Punjab in September last year.

Watch: The AMRAAM®-ER missile takes to the sky

Five defense contractors have been awarded contracts for the second phase of development of the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, which is planned to replace the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Point Blank Enterprises, Oshkosh Defense, BAE Systems and Land Armaments, General Dynamics Land Systems and American Rheinmetall Industries will share a $299.4 million deal to develop digital designs of the new IFV.

President Joe Biden told US intelligence officials that he thinks a cyber breach could lead to a “shooting war” with a major global power. “I think it’s more likely we’re going to end up—if we end up in a war, a real shooting war, with a major power—it’s going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence,” Biden said during a visit to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), according to a recording of his visit.

The commander of US Central Command said airstrikes in Afghanistan would continue as long as Afghan forces are being attacked by the Taliban as the US military pulls out of the country. CENTCOM commander Gen. Frank McKenzie noted the airstrikes in a visit to Kabul on Sunday, which comes as the US military has pulled about 95% of troops and equipment out of the country.

Northrop Grumman won a $19.7 million contract modification, which adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering risk reduction efforts to support the delivery schedule of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft FAA1-FAA3 for the government of France. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness. Work will take place in Florida, New York and Ohio. Estimated completion will be by January 2022.

Spain’s Navantia shipyard has completed complex tropicalization work of the Roald Amundsen frigate (F-311) that Navantia designed and built for the Norwegian Navy between 2000 and 2011. The warship is second of the Fridjof Nansen Class (F310). These works, for which the contract was signed on July 2020, has improved the cooling capacity of the F311 frigate, which will allow it to navigate in conditions of much warmer ambient and water temperatures than the traditional operational scenarios of the Royal Norwegian Navy.

The Yomiuri reports that Japan will send JS Kaga back to the dock for modernization works to prepare the warship to operate the F-35B. Meanwhile, the defense ministry is considering plans to have USMC F-35Bs operate from Kaga’s sister ship Izumo to test out the modifications that were done to allow the helicopter destroyer to operate the F-35B.

Taiwan Navy took delivery of its Tuo Chiang Class stealth corvette on Tuesday. Taiwan launched the first Tuo Chiang Class corvette named Ta Chiang in Yilan county in December. Dubbed “aircraft carrier killer,” the corvette is heavily armed.

Watch: Fridtjof Nansen Class General Purpose Frigate

Lockheed Martin won a $37 million contract modification, which adds scope to procure special tooling and test equipment for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter production line in support of second source canopy tooling and other known capacity gaps for the Navy, Marines, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will take place in California, Texas, Australia and New Jersey. Estimated completion will be in August 2023.

BAE Systems won a $117 million contract from Lockheed Martin to produce next-generation missile seekers for the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). The seeker technology enables LRASM to detect and engage specific maritime targets in contested environments with less dependence on traditional navigation systems. The next-generation seeker design reduces overall missile costs.

Raytheon won a $212 million delivery order for Morocco Fighter Aircraft Engines. The order is for F100-PW-229 install engines, Work will take place in Connecticut. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2025. Morocco asked to procure 25 F-16C/D Block 72 jets, built by Lockheed Martin and 29 Pratt & Whitney F100-229 engines and other related equipment from the US government under a potential $3.9 billion FMS transaction the State Department approved in March 2019.

Thales has received an order from the French defense procurement agency (DGA) for 350 Scorpion helmet-mounted sight and display systems that will be integrated on French Air Force and Navy Rafale fighters. The contract includes 400 digital multi-function displays that Thales says are larger with an improved touchscreen interface and greater processing power.

Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has purchased new long-range radars manufactured by Hensoldt and Elta Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The contract calls for the delivery and installation of four long-range radars as part of the “Hughes Air Defense Radar Nachfolgesystem” (HADR NF) programme.

According to Jane’s, the Indian Navy has made several upgrades to its “Tabar” guided-missile frigate as seen in photos during deployments in the Mediterranean and Europe. The naval ship is now equipped with a new electronic warfare system built by Indian defense firm Bharat Electronics. The new system has been installed to replace an older Russian electronic warfare system.

Watch: INS Tabar Seen with New Combat System Upgrades…

Boeing won a $12 million order, which provides production engineering support in support of the integration and installation of weapon systems on the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft for the Navy. The US Navy F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet are maritime strike attack aircraft. The Growler is a derivative of the combat-proven two-seat F/A-18 Hornet, the US Navy’s maritime strike aircraft. The primary missions of the aircraft are electronic attack (EA) and suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD), particularly at the start and ongoing early stages of hostilities. Work will take place in Maryland and Missouri. Estimated completion will be in July 2022.

The US Missile Defense Agency has carried out its most complex test so far on July 24 by firing four SM-6 Dual II missiles at two short-range ballistic missile targets. While one target was destroyed, the agency was not sure if the other target was intercepted. This is the third flight test of the SM-6 Dual II missile from a Aegis BMD-equipped warship. The firing ship for the test was the USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) and it took place off Hawaii.

Russia has reportedly lent support to strengthen Syrian military’s air defense systems, which reports claim, is to offer protection against Israeli airstrikes. The United States was informed before Russia began upgrading the military equipment, London-based Arabic language newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported citing “well-informed” Russian sources.

Royal Air Force (RAF)-operated Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, have completed a proof of concept exercise in Norway, which tested tactical ground-based refuelling capabilities at a dispersed forward operating location. The multi-role fighters were supported by an RAF-operated Airbus A330-243MRTT Voyager KC2/KC3 multi-role tanker transport and A400M Atlas C1 heavy-lift tactical transport from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, for the duration of the deployment.

South Korean defense firm LIG Nex1 says its proposed solution for the South Korean navy CIWS-II program has scored the highest marks in the evaluation by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). South Korea wants a new generation CIWS that has the same barrel and ammunition carriage system as the Goalkeeper. The CIWS-II will be integrated into the future aircraft carrier, destroyers, and frigates.

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Tibet Military Command deployed the indigenously developed HJ-12 man-portable anti-tank missile that is similar in capabilities to the US-made Javelin in a recent military exercise in the deep plateau region. In an official release, the military announced it conducted a series of exercises and attached a photograph showing a soldier carrying a portable anti-tank missile that can be carried by a single person. Shanghai-based news website eastday.com identified it as the HJ-12, making it the weapon’s first public appearance in PLA service.

Watch: How Powerful is Javelin and HJ-12 Anti-Tank Missile

The US Air Force published a new B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic with an accompanying fact sheet on July 6. The rendering is based on the actual aircraft, and an artist’s interpretation of the B-21 design, with Edwards Air Force Base, California in the background. The aircraft will undergo testing there.

The US Defense Department canceled a $10 billion cloud computing contract that’s been the subject of ongoing legal battles, saying it “no longer meets” requirements. A Pentagon representative told reporters that instead, the department will be soliciting new proposals from cloud service providers.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has called on the government to sell the “Wing of Zion” Boeing 767 VVIP jet just months before it is set to enter operational service. The cost of modifying the jet has grown fifty percent from the original $115 million budget. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will decide on the fate of the aircraft later with input from President-elect Isaac Herzog.

MBDA announced it will for the first time pair a CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile) missile with an upgraded Sea Viper command and control (C2) system on board the Royal Nay’s Type 45 destroyers. CAMM offers both close-in and local-area air defence, and will complement Aster 30, strengthening the anti-air defence capability of the Royal Navy.

Details were published about how the new UK ‘National Flagship’ will operate. According to a ‘Prior Information Notice’ regarding the upcoming tendering process to design and build the vessel, the vessel will be used to host high level trade negotiations and trade shows and will sail all over the world promoting British interests. The British Prime Minister announced a new National Flagship for the UK in May.

Royal Australian Navy Anzac Class frigate HMAS Perth returned to the water on July 1 after being lowered out of the dry dock at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia. The move followed the completion of upgrades to the frigate’s radar capabilities, communications systems, and crew-habitable areas, which are a major part of the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Programme (AMCAP), according to a statement by the Department of Defense.

Watch: UK Navy power !! Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyers To Get £500m Firepower Upgrade

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency chose 3 teams of researchers led by Raytheon, BAE Systems, and Northrop Grumman. They have been selected to develop event-based infrared (IR) camera technologies. The project was awarded under the agency’s Fast Event-based Neuromorphic Camera and Electronics program. Event-based cameras are an emerging class of sensors with demonstrated advantages relative to traditional imagers. These advanced models operate asynchronously and only transmit information about pixels that have changed. This means they produce significantly less data and operate with much lower latency and power.

The US Army’s new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) recently carried out its airdrop certification testing over Fort Bragg. The ISV was delivered by standard low-velocity from US Air Force C-130 and C-17 aircraft. Standard dual row airdrop system from the C-17 was tested as well.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is integrating offensive and defensive systems including MF-STAR (Magen Adir) radar onto the Navy’s Sa’ar 6 corvettes. The company, together with the Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (part of IMoD) and the Israeli Navy, completed the first phase of installing the MF-STAR (Magen Adir) radars on the Israeli Navy’s Sa’ar 6 corvettes and will continue to integrate the BARAK MX Air Defense System (Ra’am Adir) on the vessels. The radars will serve to locate and classify air and surface targets and help to build an advanced and detailed maritime picture of the surveillance area.

Israel-based BIRD Aerosystems said that it delivered a complete ASIO Maritime Task Force Solution to an undisclosed African government. The ASIO Maritime Task Force Solution includes multiple Cessna Citation CJ3 aircraft that the company converted into Maritime Patrol Aircraft, together with BIRD’s advanced mission management system (MSIS) which was also installed on a number of vessels as well as at the naval HQ command.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Aviation Group will also establish a passenger to freighter conversion site to convert the Boeing 737-700/800 in partnership with Atitech company, at Atitech’s leading MRO center in Naples, Italy. The cargo conversion site in Italy will join two existing cargo conversion sites in China.

A JGSDF Type 12 Surface-to-Ship missile launch vehicle from the 5th Surface-to-Ship Missile Regiment caught fire 468 meters inside the Kumamoto airport underground tunnel on July 4. The vehicle was returning to base from the JGSDF Hijyu-dai Proving ground and it was not carrying any live weapons at that time. The incident forced the tunnel to be closed to traffic for three hours. Two people onboard the vehicle were unhurt.

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

Northrop Grumman won a $12.9 million contract modification, which exercises an option to provide continued support for integrated test team operations in executing advanced development experimentation flights and development testing in support of future delta system software builds for the Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness. Work will take place in Patuxent River, Maryland. Estimated completion will be in July 2022.

The US Marine Corps announced last week that its 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) declared full operational capability (FOC) for the F-35C Lightning II. FOC is significant in its confirmation that VMFA-314 is fully prepared and equipped successfully deploy aboard United States Navy aircraft carriers, marking the first FOC declaration for Marine Corps. This inaugural event is met after VMFA-314 received their first F-35C on January 21, 2020 when their first jet arrived at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar from Naval Air Station Lemoore.

The US State Department approved a contract to Kuwait for heavy tactical vehicles. The contract, estimated to be worth $445 million, will cover 517 total Heavy Tactical Vehicles consisting of Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT) and Heavy Equipment Transporters (HET). These items include: 31 HEMTT Wrecker Trucks (M984A4 ten-ton with crane and winch); 100 HEMTT Fuel Tanker Trucks (M978A4, ten-ton, 2,500?gallon); 188 Guided Missile Transporter Trucks (M985A4, ten-ton with winch); 50 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) Trucks (M1070A1); 50 635NL Commercial Trailers for use with HET prime movers; 49 Palletized Load System (PLS) Trailers (M1076A0); PLS Flat Rack (M1077 with sides); and related equipment and support, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a release today.

VSE Corp. won a $31.6 million delivery order for an in-country technical assistance team (ICTAT) to the Egyptian Navy for follow-on technical support. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the government of Egypt under FMS Case EG-P-GKB. The contractor shall provide ICTAT to include technical, logistics, training, and facilities and administration support to the Egyptian Navy for work on multiple ship platforms. Work will take place in Egypt and Virginia. Estimated completion will be by June 2023.

BAE Systems said it received the first contract from the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Production Corps to deliver M-Code Military Global Positioning System User Equipment to Germany. Under a Foreign Military Sales contract, BAE Systems will deliver advanced M-Code GPS technology to Germany, enabling precise, resilient, and secure geolocation and positioning capabilities that improve the effectiveness of allied operations.

The US Army has deployed a PAC-3 air defense missile battery from Okinawa to Amami for the first time as part of Orient Shield 21-2. The unit carried out joint training with the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Watch: The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)

The Long Range Stand Off Weapon (LRSO) has entered the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase with the award of $2 billion to Raytheon Missiles and Defense. The LRSO is a new air-launched cruise missile to replace the AGM-86. The missile will have a nuclear-armed capability and Raytheon will have to complete the development work by February 2027.

Lockheed Martin won a $28.2 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure mission computers (MC) and flight management computers (FMC) retrofit kits to upgrade the MH-60R/S aircraft. The quantities are as follows: 205 Generation 3i/5i MCs to upgrade from Generation III/V/VI, to include 187 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, five for the government of Saudi Arabia and four for the government of Denmark; 200 Generation 3i/5i FMCs to upgrade from Generation III/V FMCs, to include 182 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, five for the government of Saudi Arabia and four for the government of Denmark. Additionally, this modification procures 153 wiring kits to include 136 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, four for the government of Denmark, and four for the government of Saudi Arabia. Work will take place in New York and Florida. Estimated completion will be in March 2024.

Jane’s reports that Israel Aerospace Industries through its ELTA Systems group is delivering dozens of its ‘Drone Guard’ Counter-UAS (CUAS) systems to a country in South Asia in a deal, worth tens of millions of dollars. IAI develops and manufactures the Drone-Gard System from start to finish including the advanced Radar capabilities. The Drone Guard system handles hundreds of targets simultaneously and provides a solution to multiple evolving threats Worldwide. The system’s advantage derives from the multi-layer implementation concept using a high-resolution 3D X-Band radar a key for drone-detection, an integrated COMIN ESM, multi-channel jamming and high resolution EO/IR with integrated AI capabilities.

The British government has given $4.8 million to the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) for the Co-operative Strike Weapons Technology Demonstrator (CSWTD) program. The aim of the program is similar to the U.S. Air Force’s Golden Horde Vanguard, which will allow weapons to collaborate amongst themselves. Scientists will investigate how inter-missile communication and cooperative behaviors can be technically achieved over the next two years.

A court in Paris has ordered a probe by the National Financial Prosecutors’ Office into a 2016 deal to sell 36 Rafale figher jets to India by Dassualt Aviation. French investigative news website Mediapart reported: “as confirmed to us by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (French acronym-PNF), the Paris court on June 14 opened a judicial investigation, entrusted to an examining magistrate, on the sale by France to India of 36 Rafale fighters.”

Asahi reports that Japan has decided that it will develop the engine for the F-X fighter with help from Britain. Britain’s Rolls-Royce will partner with Japan’s IHI Corporation. Both will also offer the engine for the export market. Anonymous Japanese officials told the news outlet that Japanese Prime Minister Suga spoke on the issue with British Prime Minister Johnson during the G7 summit last month. At the end of June, officials from Japan’s Defense Ministry traveled to Britain for talks on the issue.

Watch: French Judge Tasked With Probing Rafale Jet Sale To India

Boeing won a $39.7 million contract modification for new-build AH-64E aircraft. The AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine, four bladed, multi-mission attack helicopter designed as a highly stable aerial weapons-delivery platform. The helicopter is designed as a weapons delivery platform and is equipped with: a M230E1, 30mm automatic gun, aerial rockets system, and point target weapons system. Work will take place in Mesa, Arizona. Estimated completion date is October 31, 2025.

A US Air Force probe into its recent contract award to Boeing for Japan’s KC-46 tankers spare parts has raised concerns about unfair pricing. Service officials reportedly confirmed to Defense News the Air Force’s recent $88 million contract award to Boeing for the spare parts included about $10 million in costs they could not determine to be fair or reasonable.

The Lebanese Navy is set to receive new offshore patrol vessels from the United States and France, Defense News reported. 4 of the 7 vessels will be provided with help from France, while the remaining three Protector-class offshore patrol vehicles (OPVs) will come from the US.

Swiss newspaper Le Matin says the Dassault Rafale fighter is leading the competition to become the next fighter for Switzerland. The news report says a decision could now be announced on June 23. Le Matin says there are signs that the Swiss government has decided on the Rafale. For example, the head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, Viola Amherd, had cited the Rafale as an example of how the Swiss military could achieve its strategic objectives.

Saab announced that it would be working with Finnish firm Varjo to integrate the company’s Human eye resolution mixed reality (XR) technology into all simulators for the Saab Gripen E/F aircraft. Saab’s Head of Tactical Environment Simulation and Visualisation Stefan Furenbäck said in a statement, “We are finalising the basic functionalities in our own simulator so that we can use Varjo’s XR-3 headsets in all our flight simulators. We’ve previously carried out smaller, independent prototype-like projects but now we’re integrating them into our actual flight simulators.”

Samsung Heavy Industries Co. said that it teamed up with Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) to develop carbon-free nuclear-powered ships. The project will be based on the so-called molten salt reactor technologies. A molten salt reactor is a kind of small module reactor that utilizes molten fluoride salts as the primary coolant at low pressure. It has been emerging as a carbon-zero nuclear energy source, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday.

Watch: Is the Boeing AH-64 Apache The Ultimate Weapon?| The Ultimates: Combat Helicopters | Spark

Airbus US Space & Defense won a $119.8 million contract modification for an extension of contractor logistics support services for the UH-72 Lakota. The UH-72A Lakota is a light utility helicopter. UH-72A Lakota helicopters were acquired to replace the UH-1H Iroquois and OH-58 A/C Kiowa helicopters. Work will take place in Grand Prairie, Texas. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2022.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) has flown the first AH-1Z flight that has Link-16 capability. Bell says a two-way connection was completed from the helicopter to a ground station. Bell added that the Link-16 package from Northrop Grumman adds a new digital moving map, a new security architecture and Advanced Networking Wideband Waveform (ANW2) datalinks to the helicopter.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters operated by the Air Forces of Italy, UK and Israel are set to take part in this year’s edition of Falcon Strike 21 (FS21) exercises. Falcon Strike 21 a joint, multinational exercise involving service members from the US, Israel, Italy and the United Kingdom to integrate 4th and 5th generation fighter capabilities in a large force employment event.

Welding for the fabrication of prototypes and subsequent series production of the Boxer Mechanized Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme, under which British Army is procuring over 500 Boxer vehicles started. Under the aegis of Artec GmbH, a joint venture of Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), Rheinmetall will fabricate first prototypes at its plant in Kassel, Germany which will also make the the first series vehicles. The prototypes will have content supplied by the United Kingdom, such as the remotely controlled weapon stations, generic vehicle architecture components, the local situational awareness system or the vehicle emergency lighting system.

Yomiuri Shimbun reports that Japan will budget for the research and development of its loyal wingman in next year’s fiscal budget. The report added that the unmanned air aircraft will be carried aboard the next-generation fighter dubbed F-X. The concept is not new in Japan. The former Fuji Heavy Industries develop the Fuji TACOM unmanned aerial vehicle from 1995 to 2011. The drone was carried on board the F-4E and F-15J. The US Air Force has also integrated the UTAP-22 Mako on the F-15C.

The Indian Navy has started to train its personnel to fly and maintain the MH-60R naval helicopter in the United States. The detachment have started their training at NAS Pensacola. Hindustan Times reports that two MH-60Rs will delivered to the Indian Navy next month and the third helicopter will be delivered by end of the year.

Watch: Viper AH-1Z attack helicopter air missile capability

Lockheed Martin won a $172.4 million contract modification for procurement of spare hardware in association with Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability (PAC-3) FY21 missiles and command and launch system. The PAC-3 serves as an endoatmospheric point defense system with a capability to intercept short-range tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and military aircraft. Unlike earlier Patriot missile defense systems, the PAC-3 interceptor relies on hit-to-kill technology whereby the interceptor uses kinetic energy to destroy its target on impact. Work will take place in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2024.

According to Oshkosh Defense, the company  won a $942.9 million contract to integrate 30mm medium caliber weapons systems onto US Army Stryker vehicles. The upgrade to the Stryker Double V Hull Infantry Carrier Vehicle will provide “precision lethality capability to the Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team,” the company said in a press release.

Turkey’s Aselsan has started mass production of tank armor package for integration onto German-origin Leopard 2A4 tanks. The Leopard 2A4 is an upgraded version of the first generation of Leopard 2 MBT including an automated fire and explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able to handle new ammunition types and an improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armor. This tank is armed with a 120 mm smoothbore gun which has been developed by Rheinmetall. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is mounted to the left side of the main armament and one 7.62mm machine gun to the hatch of the loader. Two banks of four 76mm smoke grenade dischargers are mounted to each side of the turret.

A new ‘light’ Multiple Launch Rocket system (MLRS) based on an 80 mm rocket is being developed in Russia with serial production planned for 2024. The new MLRS will be unveiled at the Army-2021 land forces exhibition which will be held from August 22 to 28 at the Patriot Exhibition Center near Moscow.

Trials of Ajax armoured vehicles were halted at the end of last year to March this year due to excessive vibration and noise, leaving crews suffering from nausea, swollen joints and tinnitus. At the end of May, the Sun reported that General Dynamics built Ajax had encountered significant design problems and cited a leaked document outlining the excessive vibration and other issues. In a statement, the UK’s Ministry of Defense confirmed trials had been halted but have also said that trials had resumed.

South Korean prosecutors have said that they will not press any charges against Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) or the military over the crash of the MUH-1 helicopter that took place on July 18, 2018. Investigations into the crash found that a manufacturing defect lead to cracks in the main rotor mast.

Watch: South Korean Marine Corps MUH-1 Marineon amphibious helicopter

BAE Systems won a $15.7 million contract modificationfor spare parts necessary for initial training and fielding for Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles. The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is a family of next generation, highly survivable vehicles essential to the future of the US Army. The AMPV is to replace the Vietnam War-era and legacy M113 Family of Vehicles. The program is a part of the future of the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). The AMPV will be integrated with the ABCT and is required to operate alongside the M1 Abrams tank and the M2 Bradley infantry vehicle. Work will take place in Pennsylvania. Estimated completion date is January 1, 2023.

The US Air Force completed the Project Strike Rodeo (PSR) munitions proof-of-concept that validated loading five Lockheed Martin AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missiles (JASSMs) on a Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, according to a service statement. The proof-of-concept performed by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron started in January. A team of expert tacticians worked through a specific scenario that relied on the ability to escort a bomber loaded with stand-off munitions to a release point in a highly contested environment.

While the Israel Gaza conflict is still ongoing, the Iron Dome proves successful against Gaza rockets. The Israeli-made and US-funded anti-rocket Iron Dome intercept system has reportedly stopped 90 percent of the missiles fired into Israel since the beginning of the conflict in early May. Israel has been using the Iron Dome since 2011. A battery consists of a radar unit and a control center that can detect projectiles soon after their launch and calculate their trajectory and target. It takes seconds for an approaching projectile to be detected.

Northrop Grumman won a $17.7 million order, which provides technical and sustainment support for E-2C/D aircraft common and unique requirements for the Governments of France and Japan. The E-2C Hawkeye aircraft supplied by Northrop Grumman is an all-weather airborne early warning aircraft to the naval task force. The next-generation E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has a new radar system, theatre missile defence capabilities, multi-sensor integration and a Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems tactical glass cockpit. Work will take place in Florida, Japan, and Ohio. Expected completion will be in April 2022.

German company Rheinmetall announced that it signed a contract worth $359 million with the country’s defense procurement agency for the supply of 44 Kodiak armored engineering vehicles (AEVs) for the German Army. Production will begin in 2023, with delivery scheduled to be completed by 2029, said the company. According to Rheinmetall, the Kodiak is an AEV and mine clearance tank that can meet the technical and tactical needs of modern combat engineers. It features a bulldozer blade with adjustable cutting and tilt angles. The Kodiak vehicle is known as the “Pionierpanzer 3 Kodiak” in German. It is based on the Leopard 2 main battle tank that was developed by German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW).

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s Xinjiang Military Command has taken delivery of three new advanced weapon systems – armored vehicles, howitzers and self-propelled rocket launchers – over the past week. The unit deployed in a snowy plateau region at an elevation of more than 4,500 meters inducted dozens of Type 08 eight-wheeled armored vehicles of different variants.

Watch: MQ-4C Triton drone deploy in japan by usa | Latest Military News Today World Defence Update

Textron Systems won a $15.8 million contract for a one-time mid-life upgrade engineering change proposal for the advanced boresight equipment (ABE) system to modernize and bring 100 fielded domestic and Foreign Military Sales units up to the current commercial off the shelf configuration. Additionally, this contract procures depot repair and upgrade support for the ABE currently installed on AH-1Z, AH-1W and MH-60R combat aircraft, ashore and afloat. Depot repair and upgrade support includes tear down and evaluation of ABE, as well as restoration, modification, and procurement of spare parts in support of ABE component and assembly repairs and upgrades. Work will take place in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Expected completion date is in May 2026.

Raytheon won a $9.4 million order to support the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 life, parts, and ESSM Block 1 test equipment supplies. The ESSM is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile developed to protect warships from advanced anti-ship cruise missiles. Work will take place in California and Arizona. Estimated completion will be by September 2022. The order combines purchases for the US Navy, international consortium nation navies, and the government of Japan under the Foreign Military Sales program.

Nigeria will induct its three JF-17 fighters into service on May 20 at Airforce Base Makurdi. The three jets were delivered there in March. The base is also home to the Tactical Air Command (TAC).

Georgia’s Minister of Defense Juansher Burchuladze revealed that the country is in talks to buy mobile anti-air missile defense systems from Rafael. The negotiations are to be concluded by end of the year and the new systems will protect manoeuvring forces.

Leonardo is pitching its M-346FA as a potential replacement for Poland’s ageing fleet of Sukhoi Su-22 ‘Fitter’ aircraft, the company announced on May 14. Declaring its intention to bid its M-346FA light attack aircraft as a replacement for the Polish air force (Inspektorat Si? Powietrznych: ISP) fleet of nearly 30 Warsaw Pact-era Su-22M4 aircraft that have been in service since 1985, Leonardo noted the synergies that the ISP could reap given that it already operates the baseline M-346 Master trainer version.

The Malaysian government has decided to retain state-affiliated Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) as the shipbuilder for the country’s troubled Maharaja Lela (Gowind)-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme. The decision was made in early May by a ministerial committee that was convened to examine options for the long-delayed programme, the country’s defense minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, said in a statement.

Watch: M-346FA