Americas
Argon St Inc. won a $18 million deal for the repair of the communications interface unit for the support of operations of the MQ-4C Triton aircraft. All work will be performed in Fairfax, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by November 2026. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Technologies Corp’s Pratt and Whitney Military Engines has secured a substantial contract modification valued at up to $1.3 billion to support the F-35 Lightning II aircraft’s propulsion systems. The contract amends a prior agreement, extending services such as depot level maintenance, repair, and various forms of management support for the F135 engines that power the advanced fighter jets. This contract option covers a range of activities, including program and financial management, propulsion integration, spare parts procurement, engineering, material and product management, software maintenance, security, and technical data updates. It also includes support equipment management and training for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers, and non-US Department of Defense participants.
Middle East & Africa
Elbit Systems will supply the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with advanced drones and autonomous systems as part of multiple signed deals amounting to around $40 million. The Israeli Ministry of Defense has not disclosed the specific models, but shared that the IDF seeks to upgrade its operational capabilities through acquiring intelligence-collecting drones that are “capable of operating within Seek & Strike swarms and intelligence platoons.” Other platforms procured include mission drones with advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, terrain dominance, and combat force attack capabilities, in addition to mini-drone-based strike solutions for urban missions.
Europe
Two Russian organizations are teaming up to develop a stratospheric balloon designed to support military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. The state-owned Dolgoprudny Design Bureau of Automation (DKBA) has inked an agreement with Bauman Moscow State Technical University to create a new ISR platform capable of reaching up to 50 kilometers above Earth’s surface. The balloon will incorporate an automated pneumatic balancing system to regulate internal pressure, ensuring stability despite changes in external temperature.
Asia-Pacific
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has taken a decisive step into the future of maritime defense, selecting General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s (GA-ASI) SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems for its Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program. The selection, announced in December 2024, follows over 1.5 years of rigorous testing and evaluation by the JMSDF. The service began its trial operation project with the SeaGuardian in April 2023, putting the system through its paces to assess its suitability for Japan’s challenging maritime environment. This move mirrors a similar decision by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). On Aug. 15, the JCG signed a contract for the purchase of two SeaGuardian RPAs from GA-ASI, with delivery expected in 2025. This follows the JCG’s ongoing Company-Owned, Contractor-Operated agreement with GA-ASI, which began in April 2022 and has seen SeaGuardians actively supporting a range of JCG missions.
