Americas

Mercury Mission Systems won a $16.8 million modification, which exercises an option to procure 48 data transfer units and 121 high-definition video recorders for retrofit on F/A-18C-F Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircrafts in support of Small Business Innovation Research Phase III topic N102-0129 titled, “Automatic Real-Time, Reconfigurable Interface Generalization Hardware Multiprotocol Data Recorder”. Work will be performed in Torrance, California, and is expected to be completed in June 2026.

Canada has solidified a government-to-government agreement with the United States for the procurement of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Valued at an estimated $7.7 billion, this strategic move is designed to replace Canada’s aging CP-140 Aurora fleet, which has faithfully served for over four decades. In March this year, the Canadian government announced that the Boeing P-8A Poseidon was selected as the preferred candidate to replace its aging CP-140 Aurora fleet. The decision was made after a thorough process that included engagement with industry and Canada’s closest allies.

Middle East & Africa

Israel’s ordered Joint Light Tactical Vehicles from Oshkosh Defense. This will keep the company’s production line open into 2025, longer than originally planned. Oshkosh said earlier this year it was preparing to close its JLTV production line by the end of 2024 after theArmy selected AM General to take over production of the Humvee replacement. Last month, the Israeli Ministry of Defense placed two JLTV orders: one for 75 JLTVS through a foreign military sale and “dozens more” through a direct commercial sale, according to Oshkosh. The company did not provide a specific number of vehicles Israel is buying through the commercial sale.

Europe

In an incident that unfolded on the afternoon of November 28, a Swiss Air Force PC-21 training aircraft encountered trouble during a landing maneuver at the Emmen Air Base. The pilot and trainee duo on board ejected from the aircraft, ensuring their safety. Emergency services also promptly responded to the situation. The accident occurred around 2:45 PM local time as two PC-21 training aircraft were returning from a routine training flight. During the landing process, the second aircraft deviated from the runway, resulting in the ejection of both the pilot and trainee. The aircraft, damaged in the incident, came to a stop in a meadow bordering the runway.

Asia-Pacific

NATO countries wrapped up one their signature cybersecurity exercises in Estonia this week, welcoming South Korea and Japan to the proceedings as alliance officials seek like-minded governments to harden their collective virtual defenses. The Cyber Coalition 2023 event in the country’s capital of Tallinn focused on sharing threat intelligence and responding to attack scenarios on virtual national critical infrastructure as well as targets and structures of military nature.

Defense ministers for the Philippines and France vowed Saturday to pursue an agreement that would allow them to deploy troops to each other’s territories, the latest such deal sought by the archipelagic nation located in the strategic South China Sea. Speaking following a meeting in Manila, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu said they agreed to seek authorization from their respective presidents and relevant agencies to start negotiations for a visiting forces agreement.

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