Americas
Lockheed Martin won a $67.5 million contract modification to exercise an option for the Advanced Electronic Guidance and Instrumentation System (AEGIS) — Combat System Engineering agent efforts for the design, development, integration, test, and delivery of the Advanced Capability Build 20. The Aegis Combat System is an American integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin. Work will take place in New Jersey. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2021.
Rolls-Royce won a $26.5 million modification, which exercises an option that provides for the production and delivery of eight AE1107C engines for the Navy and four for the Air Force in support of the V-22 Osprey. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopters. Boeing is responsible for the fuselage, landing gear, avionics, electrical and hydraulic systems, performance and flying qualities. Work will take place in Indiana. Estimated completion will be in December 2022.
Middle East & Africa
According to Defense News, Lebanon is putting up five Hawker Hunters for sale and Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) is one of the three companies that have indicated their interest. These jets have been withdrawn from service since 2010. Brig. Gen. Ziad Haikal, told Defense News that the sale is to restructure the training fleet.
Europe
The Royal Air Force has temporarily halted Hawk T1 operations while an investigation is carried out into a recent crash. The MoD said the pause in operations was a “precautionary measure while investigations were ongoing”. Earlier this week it was announced the RAF would retire its fleet of 76 T1 jets as part of a defence review.
Asia-Pacific
Taiwan will resume flights for the Northrop F-5 fighter next week, Air Force chief of staff Huang Chih-Wei told legislators. The fleet was grounded after two jets collided in mid-air on March 22.
Airbus has delivered Singapore’s first H225M helicopter and flight tracking information shows the rotorcraft arrived at Paya Lebar airbase on the morning of March 22. It was loaded on board the cargo plane at Marseille on March 20 and made a stop in Mumbai before proceeding to Singapore.
Today’s Video
Watch: Autonomous vessel ‘Madfox’ joins Royal Navy
