Defense Industry Daily

F-35 Lightning: The Joint Strike Fighter Program

aerial refueling of f 35 lightning ii joint strike fighters at eglin afb, fla.

Lockheed Martin won a $29.7 million modification, which adds scope to procure training systems and simulation design, development, integration, test, production, deployment, modifications, upgrades and sustainment services to improve and sustain F-35 training devices in support of distributed mission training for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp, and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida; and Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in July 2026. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Boeing won a $2 billion modification for E-7A Rapid Prototyping. The modification is for the definitization of the UCA. Work will be performed in Tukwila, Washington, and is expected to be completed by August 28, 2029. There are no funds being obligated at the time of award. Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. The deal represents a significant milestone for both parties, who have been working to finalize terms since an initial agreement was signed in 2023. The path to contract finalization was fraught with challenges. The Air Force initially faced difficulties in aligning its requirements with those of the United Kingdom, which has also acquired E-7s. Moreover, Boeing was under pressure to avoid the financial pitfalls that have plagued its defense division. These factors, coupled with disagreements over pricing, led to protracted negotiations and a temporary halt to procurement funding for the program.

Lockheed Tapped For F-35 Training Devices | Iran's Guards Navy Added Missiles And Drones | Thailand Intends To Procure China’s QBZ-195T

Americas

The US Air Force and Navy have tested a QUICKSINK live-fire anti-ship attack with a B-2 Spirit heavy strategic bomber aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico. The event saw techniques for neutralizing surface vessels using precision-guided bombs modified specifically to counter maritime systems at low cost. According to the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), QUICKSINK leverages a guidance kit equipped with a new Weapon Open Systems Architecture seeker solution.

Middle East & Africa

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have added long-range missiles and drones to the force’s navy, official media said Friday, amid heightened regional tensions following Hamas leader’s killing in Tehran blamed on Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological arm of Iran’s military which has links to Tehran-aligned armed groups across the Middle East, played a key part in the Islamic Republic’s first direct attack on Israel in April.

Europe

The US Navy’s Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and the Italian Navy’s Cavour Carrier Strike Group have successfully concluded the first-ever bilateral Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) in the Indo-Pacific region on August 9. This groundbreaking exercise brought together over 7,500 personnel from both navies, showcasing advanced maritime integration and combat readiness. The MLDE focused on enhancing interoperability through joint operations, including maritime communication, air warfare, and cross-deck flight operations. Rear Adm. Adan Cruz, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, emphasized the critical nature of these exercises in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Asia-Pacific

Thailand could become the first foreign operator of China’s QBZ-195T assault rifles after recently signifying its intent to procure the weapons. According to local media reports, Beijing is offering an assault weapon with key modifications to meet the operational needs of the Royal Thai Army. It will be chambered in the widely-used 5.56×45-millimeter NATO caliber, aligning it with available ammunition in Thailand.

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MQ-9 Reaper: Unfettered for Export

The US Marine Corps has equipped its MQ-9 Reaper drone with an electronic warfare pod that makes the aircraft nearly invisible to enemy eyes. Called the T-SOAR (Scalable Open Architecture Reconnaissance), the pod mimics an enemy’s radar and communication emissions and sends them back to the source. “What they bring with them is a sensing and making sense capability,” Seapower quoted Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith as saying at a Brookings Institution event last week.

SOFIS-TRG LLC won a $83 million single award contract for MQ-9 Aircrew Training Support. This contract provides for all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and all other items and services required to perform and support MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft aircrew academic instruction; courseware development; and air and ground intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance test and training support. Work is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2029. Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Hampton, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Northrup Grumman won a $24.7 million modification, which adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering risk reduction efforts to support the delivery schedule of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the government of Japan. Work will be performed is expected to be completed November 2024. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Poland has moved closer to finalizing its $12 billion deal for 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters by signing offset agreements with Boeing and General Electric worth nearly $255 million. The deals are designed to bolster the Polish defense industry and enhance the country’s military capabilities. The offset agreement with Boeing encompasses maintenance support for the Apache helicopters and training for maintenance personnel. This deal, valued at approximately $102 million, will ensure that Poland has the necessary expertise to sustain its new aircraft fleet.

US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) made history by successfully landing an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship on Highway 63 in Bono, Arkansas. This unprecedented feat, conducted as part of the Emerald Warrior Field Training Exercise II, showcased AFSOC’s commitment to Agile Combat Employment (ACE) and its ability to operate in austere environments. “Emerald Warrior FTX II demonstrates to our adversaries that we can meet them anytime, any place, anywhere, without the need for traditional runways to project air power,” said Col. Patrick Dierig, 1st Special Operations Wing commander. “By landing an AC-130J on a highway and conducting FARP operations, we’re proving our ability to operate in austere and unique environments. It shows our commitment to maintain operational flexibility and readiness, ensuring we can deliver decisive airpower whenever and wherever it’s needed.”

Lockheed Martin won a $19.2 million modification for the acquisition of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Configuration 3.1 Part A Ground Modernization equipment to support the US government. The THAAD Configuration 3.1 Part A, and associated labor and equipment, will be procured under a firm-fixed-price contract line item. Expected completion date is January 1, 2027. Fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024 U.S. government procurement funds in the amount of $19,161,388 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

GA-ASI Selected For Project Red | Significant Development Milestone For FE-1 | Indra To Refine Dragon Mission System

Americas General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been selected as the Lead Systems...

Japan To Send Patriots To US | DOS Approves Sales To Slovakia And Belgium | Guam Missile Defense Awaits Layered Architecture Funds

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $19.2 million modification for the acquisition of Terminal High...

USAF F-22 Makes Pitch Black Debut | NG Tapped For F-16 FMS Support | Netherlands To Purchase Lockheed JASSM

Americas The United States Air Force (USAF) F-22 Raptor made its debut at Exercise Pitch Black,...

Sikorsky Tapped For King Stallion | Elbit To Provide Iron Sting Mortar Israel Ministry of Defense | US Provides $500M Military Funding To Philippines

Americas Sikorsky Aircraft won a $120 million modification, which adds scope to procure additional...

VMFA-311 Close To Declaring IOC For F-35C | DOS Approved FMS To Saudi Arabia And Belgium | Australia Might Equip Ghost Bats With Lethal Loads

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $19 million modification for the procurement of material...

NORAD Conducted Intercepts Involving Russian And Chinese Aircraft | 5 JRX Delivered To Jordan | Lithuania Launched New Military Training Facility

Americas North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) conducted a series of intercepts...

Boeing Wants To Turn F-15EX Into Electronic Attack Aircraft | Final Sea Class Workboat For Royal Navy Deliveries | Lockheed Tapped For F-35 Training For Korea

Americas Boeing has expressed interest in converting its F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet into...

GM Defense To Deliver LTVs To Canadian Army | IAI Unveils Wind Demon | Chinese Companies Supply Belarus Contractor With Russia Ties

Americas Canada has awarded GM Defense a contract to deliver 90 Light Tactical Vehicles (LTVs) for...

NG Tapped For Advanced Hawkeye | Textron King Air 260’s Europe Debut | Agreement For Reef Resupply Missions

Americas Northrop Grumman has received a $1.5-billion contract to deliver E-2D Advanced Hawkeye...

SM-6 Intercepts Target Using Army’s Missile Defense Radar | Thales To Supply French Army With 30 dual-band X/Ka | Seventh Air Force Conducts F-16 Super Squadron Test

Americas Raytheon has demonstrated a simulated missile interception using the US Army’s new...

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