Last updated: Monday Oct 21, 2019 - 05:00 UTC ()
Super Hornet Fighter Family MYP-III: 2010-2018 Contracts
The USA’s E-6 Fleet: Take Charge, And Move Out!
AMRAAM: Deploying & Developing America’s Medium-Range Air-Air Missile
Rapid Fire | Monday, October 21, 2019, 05:00 UTC ()
Raytheon Tapped For Super Hornet Support | Oshkosh Defense To Produce FMTV For Israel | Bangladesh Interested In AH-64
Americas
Raytheon won a $17.9 million order that procures Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared special test equipment updates to the Windows 10 operating system in support of the F/A-18E/F Super Horner aircraft. The Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared is a multi-sensor, electro-optical targeting pod incorporating thermographic camera, low-light television camera, target laser rangefinder/laser designator, and laser sport tracker developed and manufactured by Raytheon. It is now in full-rate production, fully integrated and flight tested on all F/A-18 models. Word under the new deal will take place in McKinney, Texas and estimated completion will be in February 2022.
Collins Aerospace won a $21.3 million contract modification that exercises an option to provide non-recurring engineering support to modernize the High Power Transmit System installed on the E-6B aircraft. This effort modernizes weapons replaceable assemblies and subsystems of the HPTS to avoid obsolescence. The Boeing E-6 Mercury is a command post and communications relay aircraft manufactured by Boeing for the US Navy. The aircraft relays communications for ballistic missile submarine forces and provides airborne command and control for strategic forces. The Navy introduced the E-6 to replace its EC-130Q aircraft. The E-6B features battle staff positions and an airborne launch control system equipped with land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. Work under the contract modification will take place in Texas and Iowa and estimated completion will be in May 2022.
Middle East & Africa
Oshkosh Defense won a $159.2 million Foreign Military Sales to Israel for production of Israel modified variant of family of medium tactical vehicles, including initial parts provisioning and training support. In 2017, Israel’s Ministry of Defense purchased the first six trucks to ensure the firm’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) meets Israeli requirements. The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles stands alone as the get-things-done resource for military operations, according to Oshkosh. Crew-protecting armor and advanced technologies work in concert to provide the capability, versatility, mobility and protection to move troops and supplies, recover vehicles and weapon systems or haul equipment wherever the mission requires. Oshkosh Defense will perform work until October 17, 2024.
Europe
During exercise Nickel Strike last month, USAF F-16s from the 555th Fighter Squadron practiced flying mixed formation defensive combat air patrols with Polish F-16s. According to Commander of the 555th Fighter Squadron, Lt. Col. Beau E. Diers, his fighters came under command and control of the Polish AOC while connected to a common datalink network. Demonstrations of combat ability, readiness, and interoperability between American and Polish forces, such as the ones during Nickel Strike, allow for thorough tactical training and strengthening of regional partnerships.
Asia-Pacific
The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to South Korea for 120 AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). The estimated cost is around $253 million. The missiles will arm South Korea’s F-15, F-16 and F-35 aircraft. The proposed sale also includes containers; weapon support and support equipment; spare and repair parts; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The principal contractor is Raytheon, and there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the potential sale. The AIM-120 AMRAAM missile is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operation. The fire-and-forget weapon employs active radar guidance and incorporates a datalink to guide the missile to a point where its active radar turns on to intercept the target.
Bangladesh is said to be interested in acquiring the AH-64 attack helicopter, local media reports. Anonymous US officials say two helicopters were proposed to Bangladesh and the Apache was chosen. They added that the Bangladesh government will have to decide whether to approve the request put up by the Bangladesh Air Force. Both countries are currently negotiating two agreements that are required by the US law for the purchase to go ahead that will expand the military cooperation between the countries.
Today’s Video
Watch: AUSA 2019: Debut of Compound Coaxial Helicopter mock-up
More In-depth Contract News & Updates
AH-64E Apache Block III: Evolving Battlefield Roles
| Bangladesh is said to be interested in acquiring the AH-64 attack helicopter, local media reports. Anonymous US officials say two helicopters were proposed to Bangladesh and the Apache was chosen. They added that the Bangladesh government will have to decide whether to approve the request put up by the Bangladesh Air Force. Both countries are currently negotiating two agreements that are required by the US law for the purchase to go ahead that will expand the military cooperation between the countries. More »
Missile Envy: Modernizing the US ICBM Force
| Lockheed Martin won a $108,3 million deal for the Mk21A Reentry Vehicle program. The contract is to conduct technology maturation and risk reduction to provide a low technical risk and affordable RV capable of delivering the W87-1 warhead from the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Weapon System. The Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center has determined it necessary to develop a Reentry Vehicle for the W87-1 warhead that will be deployed on the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Weapon System. The W87 is a thermonuclear missile warhead. Work will take place in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and is expected to be finished by October 2022. More »
CH-53K: The U.S. Marines’ HLR Helicopter Program
| Sikorsky won a $7.9 million firm-fixed-price delivery order that procures 36 improved nacelles production kits in support of the CH-53E in-service aircraft. The CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter. It was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. A total of 172 Super Stallions have been delivered and 165 are in service with marine corps squadrons in the Pacific Fleet and in the Atlantic Fleet. King Stallion is currently being developed from the Super Stallion. It will be the largest and heaviest helicopter in the US Army. Work under the delivery order in support of the CH-53E will take place in Stratford, Connecticut and estimated completion will be in May 2022. More »
The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks
| The Japan Air Self-Defense Force is sending a C-130H to Panagarh, India for exercise Shinyuu Maitri with the Indian Air Force. The exercise will commence on October 17. It ends on the 23rd. At the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte, 25 soldiers from each side will train together on counter-terrorism measures whereas, in the Shinyuu Maitri air exercise at Panagarh, the focus would be on tactical operations with botth sides using aircraft — C-130J by the IAF and C-130H by Japan — used in special operations. The C-130H aircraft is the military’s primary combat delivery aircraft and has provided humanitarian assistance, precision airdrop and tactical airlift across the globe for more than 40 years. The C-130 has been around since the Vietnam War, forming the backbone of the US Air Force's tactical airlift fleet. It is especially well-suited to austere conditions like those found throughout Afghanistan. The H models performed fantastic work in the area of responsibility. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the C-130 Hercules. More »
Aging Aircraft: USAF F-15 Fleet Sees Renewed Interest
| Singapore’s F-15 fighter jet training program in USA’s Idaho turns 10 years old, Defense News reports. In May 2009, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) took delivery of its first F-15SG and, shortly after, inaugurated a detachment based in Idaho, United States. Its aim was to build a critical mass of pilots and engineers capable of flying and maintaining the fourth-generation fighter jet. A decade later, the Peace Carvin Five detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base has come a long way, validating the capabilities of a fully-fledged fleet and winning awards at high-level multilateral exercises. Singapore commemorated 10 years of its Boeing F-15 training program in the US during an October 11 ceremony, at which officials unveiled new artwork painted on one of the jets. The ceremony was held at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho where the Republic of Singapore Air Force, or RSAF, maintains the Peace Carvin V F-15SG detachment. More »
