Americas

Bell Boeing won a $14 million modification to provide continued post-production systems engineering and program management support for the V-22 Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization retrofit program for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania; and Fort Worth, Texas and is expected to be completed in September 2024. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Maxar Intelligence has signed a deal with Lockheed Martin to expedite delivery of the F-35 Full Mission Simulator (FMS) flight simulation and training system. The agreement establishes pricing, licensing, and requirements for various Maxar products, including Dynamic basemaps and the Precision3D Data Suite, which go hand-in-hand in generating high-resolution images and high-accuracy representations of Earth for the FMS. System standardization will enable F-35 customers to begin training and mission preparedness operations faster.

Middle East & Africa

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) control section modification (HCSM) upgrades and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 7 May 2024. The proposed sale, which is worth an estimated $144 million, has been passed to the US Congress for final approval. The UAE government has requested to buy up to 149 WCU-33/B HCSM upgrade kits. Also included are high-bandwidth HSCM telemetry kits loaned for integration support to be used in the continental United States only. This includes HARM control section containers; encryption devices; software and mission data support; test flight and live-fire range support; HARM support and test equipment; spare parts and repair and return support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training support; design and construction; US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and programme support.

Europe

The Polish government will sign the Barbara aerostat reconnaissance program procurement contract this month, the country’s armament procurement agency head said. “In mid-May, i.e. in a dozen or so days at the latest, the contract for the “Barbara” aerostats will be signed,” Polsat News wrote earlier this week, citing General Artur Kuptel. He said a few elements need to be finalized before the signing.

Asia-Pacific

Australia announced an additional investment to upgrade military infrastructure and capabilities across the Northern Territory. The latest project will focus on airfield improvements and enhanced aerial refueling missions associated with the KC?30A multi-role tanker transport aircraft managed at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Tindal. New littoral maneuver centers will be built in the region in addition to the reconstruction of the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct in Darwin.

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