Last updated: Thursday Dec 09, 2021 - 05:00 UTC ()
Sikorsky’s $8.5-11.7B “Multi-Year 8” H-60 Helicopter Contract
KC-46A Pegasus Aerial Tanker Completes Firsts
Rapid Fire | Thursday, December 9, 2021, 05:00 UTC ()
USAF Pegasus To Refuel More Aircraft | Saudi Arabia Running Low On Patriots | IAF Test Fired BrahMos Super Sonic Cruise Missile
Americas
L3Harris Technologies won a $45.8 million deal for development to integrate the AN/PRC-160 high frequency manpack radio in the MH-47 and MH-60 aircraft. The Boeing MH-47G is a special operations variant of the CH-47 Chinook multi-role, heavy-lift helicopter. It is in service with the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOC). The MH-60R Seahawk missions are Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Surveillance, Communications Relay, Combat Search and Rescue, Naval Gunfire Support and logistics support. The MH-60S Seahawk missions are Anti-Surface Warfare, combat support, humanitarian disaster relief, Combat Search and Rescue, aero medical evacuation, SPECWAR and organic Airborne Mine Countermeasures. Work will take place in New York.
The US Air Force Air Mobility Command approved the operation of KC-46A Pegasus to refuel five more aircraft: AC-130J Ghostrider, HC-130J Combat King II, MC-130J Commando II, C-5M Super Galaxy and E-3G Sentry. On December 6, Gen. Mike Minihan, commander of Air Mobility Command, approved a fourth Interim Capability Release (ICR) mission set for the KC-46A allowing it to refuel five types of aircraft.
Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia is reportedly running low on its stock pile of Patriot missile interceptors and has reached out to the United States and allies in Europe and Gulf for resupplies. Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been launching ballistic missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has been using the interceptors to defeat those attacks over the past several months.
Europe
The UK’s 16 Regiment Royal Artillery accepted into service the first tranche of Sky Sabre air defense systems. According to the Ministry of Defence, “unprecedented in speed, accuracy, performance and target acquisition, Sky Sabre will be able to hit a tennis ball-sized object travelling at the speed of sound”.
Asia-Pacific
Air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jet today, clearing the weapon for serial production. The missile was tested at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
Rheinmetall announced today the delivery of three HX 8×8 Heavy Recovery Vehicles to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) at an official ceremony on November 25th 2021 at the Trentham Military Camp in Wellington, New Zealand. The purchase of the HX 8×8 adds to the in-service medium and heavy operational vehicle fleet with NZDF. The Medium-heavy Operational Vehicles (MHOV) has been used by the military in training, operations and disaster relief both in New Zealand and offshore.
Today’s Video
Watch: UK Deployed Sky Sabre Air Defense System to Counter Aircraft, Drones and Laser Guided Smart Bombs
More In-depth Contract News & Updates
Timely Defenders: Keeping Patriots in Shape
| Saudi Arabia is reportedly running low on its stock pile of Patriot missile interceptors and has reached out to the United States and allies in Europe and Gulf for resupplies. Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been launching ballistic missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has been using the interceptors to defeat those attacks over the past several months. More »
CH-53K: The U.S. Marines’ HLR Helicopter Program
| Sikorsky won a $35.3 million deal to procure long lead items for full-rate production, Lot 7, CH-53K aircraft. The Ch-53K Super Stallion can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. It can be operated from austere and remote forward operating bases. Estimated completion is in December 2022. Work will take place in Connecticut. More »
Super Hornet Fighter Family MYP-III: Contracts
| Raytheon won a contract for the repair of three ALE-50 towed decoy system components in support of the F/A-18E/F aircraft. The deal includes a five-year base period with no options. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the US Navy’s primary strike and air superiority aircraft. It is an updated version of the F-18C/D, featuring a 20 percent larger airframe, 7,000 lb heavier empty weight, and 15,000 lb heavier maximum weight than the original Hornet. The Super Hornet carries 33 percent more internal fuel, increasing mission range by 41 percent and endurance by 50 percent over the earlier Hornet. Work will take place in Mississippi and California. Estimated completion is in December 2026. More »
Canada’s CH-148 Cyclones: 4th Time Lucky?
| Cracks have been found on the tails of Canada’s CH-148 fleet, the problem affects 19 out of the 23 helicopters. The issue surfaced on November 26 when one of the helicopter underwent scheduled maintenance and the cracks were discovered. Subsequent checks on three more rotorcraft also found cracks on those aircraft. So far only two were unaffected and two more are yet to be inspected. More »
Eurofighter’s Future: Tranche 3, and Beyond
| UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoons from 12 Squadron arrived in Qatar for their joint Exercise Fox Defender. Pilots and engineers from both nations will fly and maintain the Typhoon throughout the exercise. The pilots will be challenged to a range of air to air and ground to air training serials to further enhance interoperability with the Qatar Emiri Air Force, RAF said in a statement. More »
