Last updated: Friday Jul 10, 2020 - 05:00 UTC ()
The JAS-39 Gripen: Sweden’s 4+ Generation Wild Card
Days of the Jackal: Supacat’s HMT Vehicles
Rapid Fire | Friday, July 10, 2020, 05:00 UTC ()
Brazil Starts Producing Gripen Jets | UK Loans Jackal Vehicles To Estonia | New Zealand Receives Polaris ATVs
Americas
Brazil has officially begun manufacturing fighter jets with the start of production at a new facility that makes sections of the Saab Gripen, Swedish aerospace company Saab announced Tuesday. Saab Aeronáutica Montagens, a new manufacturing plant located near Sao Paulo, has begun producing Gripen E/F aerostructures, including the tail cone and front fuselage for the single-seat Gripen E version of the jet. It will eventually also make the brakes, rear fuselage, wing box and front fuselage for the two-seater “F” model, Saab stated. Those structures will then undergo final assembly at Embraer’s nearby plant in Sao Paulo and Saab’s main Gripen production hub in Linköping, Sweden. Saab won a contract with Brazil in 2014 for 36 Gripen E/F aircraft after a hard-fought competition that included Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon. Technology transfer was a major requirement for all proposals.
Northrop Grumman announced that the US Air Force has placed an initial order for Litening pods with full-color digital video capability and two-color laser spot search and track. The pod includes full-color digital video (with resolution of more than 1k x 1k) and two-color laser spot search and track, the company announced. A color video capability gives aircrew and ground forces ‘more complete situational understanding in less time’, said Ryan Tintner, VP of navigation, targeting and surveillance at Northrop Grumman. Any Litening pod can be upgraded to the color configuration. This upgrade also includes the ability to record simultaneous video feeds from all sensors for post-mission analysis, automatic laser code display and an eye-safe mode that allows for more realistic training while using the laser.
Middle East & Africa
Elbit Systems has integrated a mini-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) onboard the Seagull Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) further enhancing its intelligence gathering capabilities. According to the company, the trials with the mini-UAS were conducted in recent weeks. With this, Elbit Systems is expanding the operational capabilities of the Seagull USV beyond Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Mines Countermeasure (MCM) missions. The shipborne mini-UAS, with a takeoff weight of up to 15kg, is capable of point water recovery. The visual feed generated by the mini-UAS can be transmitted to the land based control unit of the Seagull USV and to the Combat Management System (CMS) of additional vessels.
Europe
Estonian Special Forces deploying to Mali will be loaned four Jackal armored vehicles by the Ministry of Defense. Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey confirmed the loan, plus a three-week training package, for elite soldiers of the Estonian Armed Forces. The loan will equip Estonian troops as they join the fight against Islamic terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa, a further example of the UK’s strong partnership with one of its closest NATO allies, say the MoD.
UAC has delivered another four Su-35 fighters to the Russian Knights aerobatics team, local media reports. This brings the total number of aircraft delivered to 8. The first four were transferred in November last year. These aircraft were manufactured at Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnAAZ).
Asia-Pacific
Polaris has delivered six of its diminutive 4×4 all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to the New Zealand Army, as part of the latter’s Protected Mobility Capability Project. The lightweight four-seat vehicles, which are powered by a turbo diesel engine, are meant to replace quad bikes and other small vehicles operated by the army, and to provide improved mobility, safety, and versatility to rapidly deployable mobile forces.
Today’s Video
Watch: E-2 ‘Hawkeye’ Aircraft | NAVAL AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING
More In-depth Contract News & Updates
E-2D Hawkeye: The Navy’s New AWACS
| BAE Systems won a $26.3 million delivery order for E-2D aircraft electronic phase shifters. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 US Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulations 6.302-1. The next-generation, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has a new radar, theatre missile defense capabilities, multisensor integration and a Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems tactical glass cockpit. Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors has developed the AN/APY-9 solid-state, electronically steered UHF radar under the E-2C radar modernization program. Work will take place in New York. Estimated completion date is November 30, 2027. More »
Sikorsky’s $8.5-11.7B “Multi-Year 8” H-60 Helicopter Contract
| July 9/20: Jordan The State Department has approved the possible $23 million deal to sell one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and related equipment to the government of Jordan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced. Jordan's government had asked to buy one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter in standard US Army configuration, along with related equipment, including a common missile warning system as well as AMPS software development and support services; and other related elements of logistical, engineering, and program support. The UH-60M will supplement Jordan's existing fleet of Black Hawk helicopters and be used to transport the Jordanian Royal Family. The principal contractors for this deal will be Sikorsky Aircraft Company in Stratford, Conn., and General Electric Aircraft Company in Lynn, Mass. More »
Adding Arleigh Burkes: H.I.I. Steps Forward for DDG-51 Restart
| Vigor Marine LLC won a $133.4 million deal to prepare for and accomplish repair and alteration requirements for USS McCampbell (DDG 85) chief of naval operations scheduled depot maintenance availability. USS McCampbell will receive comprehensive modernization for DDG 51 class ships to ensure a mission relevant service life. These improvements will include hull, mechanical and electrical technology insertion; as well as provide critical warfighting improvements, such as upgraded machinery control system, integrated bridge and navigation system (to include physical throttles); advanced galley upgrade; wireless communications and digital video surveillance system upgrade; upgrade to a fiber optic local area network backbone; AEGIS baseline 9 upgrade (that includes updated guns weapons system); enhanced Vertical Launching System; multi-mission signal processor; and Ballistic Missile Defense 5.0 upgrade. USS McCampbell (DDG-85) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. This ship is the 35th destroyer of her class. USS McCampbell was the 20th ship of this class to be built by Bath Iron Works at Bath, Maine, and construction began on 16 July 1999. She was launched and christened on 2 July 2000. On 17 August 2002, the commissioning ceremony was held at Pier 30 in San Francisco, California. The Arleigh Burke Class guided-missile destroyer is en route to Portland, Oregon, where it will undergo midlife modernization. Following routine maintenance and system upgrades, McCampbell will proceed to Naval Station Everett, Washington, where it will be homeported. Work will take place in Portland, Oregon. Estimated completion will be by November 2021. More »
US Army Moves Ahead with V-Hull Strykers
| The US State Department has given Argentina the OK to procure 27 M1126 Stryker infantry carrier vehicles and related equipment for $100 million. The prime contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems. he Government of Argentina had requested to buy twenty-seven (27) M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles and twenty-seven (27) M2 Flex .50 Cal Machine Guns. Also included are AN/VAS-5 Driver’s Vision Enhancers; AN/VIC-3 Vehicle Intercom Systems; AN/VRC-91E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS); Basic Issue Items (BIi); Components of End Items (COEI); Additional Authorized List (AAL); Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); M6 Smoke Grenade launchers and associated spares; Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) De-processing Service; OCONUS Contractor-provided training; Field Service Representatives (FSR); technical manuals; spare parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. Argentina will use the Stryker vehicles to conduct stability operations in support of disaster relief and international peace keeping obligations. The M1126 Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles that can travel at speeds up to 62mph on highways, with a range of 312 miles. More »
V-22 Osprey: The Multi-Year Buys, 2008-2017
| The US government has cleared the sale of eight Bell Boeing MV-22 Block C Osprey tiltrotors to Indonesia. The total estimated price of the deal is $2 billion. The sale, if it is executed, will mark the second foreign air arm to purchase the Osprey, with Japan being the first. The prime contractors will be Bell Textron Inc., Amarillo, Texas and The Boeing Company, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. The Osprey is the world’s only production tiltrotor aircraft, enabling servicemen and women to conduct diverse missions throughout the most difficult operating environments. More »
