Americas
The Swiss Federal Office for Armaments (armasuisse) has started delivery of 22 decommissioned F-5E/F Tiger II fighter jets to the United States. The first aircraft was picked up by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) on March 18 from Emmen Air Force Station aboard a Lockheed KC-130J transport aircraft. The sale, finalized in 2020, encompasses 16 single-seat F-5E and 6 twin-seat F-5F variants, along with associated ground equipment, spare parts, and logistical support for in-country storage and preparation for transport to the U.S. The total value of the sale is estimated at $32.4 million.
Lockheed Martin and Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company Navantia have signed a deal extending their 27-year naval combat systems partnership for three more years. The agreement continues the companies’ combined role in developing surface ships and submarines, such as the F-100 and F-110 frigate programs. Integration of Lockheed’s Aegis Combat System into future ships is expected to continue under the partnership, following more than two decades of support for the Spanish, Norwegian, and Australian Navies.
Middle East & Africa
Terrahaptix, a Nigerian defense startup, announced Archer, an autonomous drone with multi-mission capabilities including aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, counter intrusion, and signals intelligence. Founded just 6 months ago, Terrahaptix designs and manufactures autonomous systems for core industries. The company has made a lot of strides since launching including the acquisition of a 15,000 sq-ft UAV factory in Abuja and the development of Artemis, an AI command and control software that powers autonomy in its family of systems.
Europe
The Norwegian government is investing $88 million to improve the delivery times of Kongsberg’s National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). The proposed budget will be submitted to the Norwegian Parliament as part of the country’s efforts to enhance the Norwegian Armed Forces’ defense capabilities. If approved, critical parts necessary to produce NASAMS launcher units will be ordered to shorten extended delivery periods and speed up production times.
Belgium approved additional military aid of$448 million for Ukraine, including much-needed artillery rounds. A total of $405 million in ammunition will be sourced from Belgian military stocks and industry, according to Belga News Agency. Details of the caliber and delivery date have not been provided.
Asia-Pacific
The Indian Army has established an elite unit tasked with exploring futuristic military technologies, including artificial intelligence. The Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group (STEAG) is expected to bolster the country’s capabilities in the digital domain to help address evolving threats. It will carry out technical scouting, evaluation, development, and management of core information and communications technology solutions for the Indian Army. The group will also provide user interface support and perform maintenance and upgrades of conventional technologies.
