Americas
BAE Systems has been awarded $25 million to provide the US Marine Corps with more Amphibious Combat Vehicle-Personnel units (ACV-P) under its fourth order for full-rate production. The deal is a follow-on order to a previously-awarded $181-million contract for the vehicles. The agreement also covers the vehicles’ fielding and sustainment costs, as well as support and test equipment.
Lockheed Martin unveiled an air-launched hypersonic missile this week being pitched to the US Navy and the US Air Force. The Mako was Lockheed’s original offer for the US Air Force’s Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) program, which aims to defeat adversary anti-access/area denial environments. Speaking to Naval News, Lockheed’s Senior Program Manager Rick Loy described the missile as a multi-mission missile capable of striking various targets.
The US Air Force has completed its Initial Operational Test & Evaluation of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS). The system upgrades the electronic warfare capabilities of the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II aircraft, including radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness, and self-protection. “EPAWSS is a leap in technology, improving the lethality and combat capabilities of the F-15E and F-15EX in contested, degraded environments against advanced threats,” Maj Bryant “Jager” Baum said.
Middle East & Africa
Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday night. The US military shot dozens of them down, but most were intercepted by Israel’s military. The strikes caused minor damage to one Israeli military base, and most of the airborne threats were intercepted, Israeli military officials said. A small girl is said to have suffered severe injuries. The United States said it had helped to shoot dozens of drones and missiles.
Europe
The British Army has signed a $75 million deal with Saab to improve its live training capabilities with laser and geometric pairing technology. The Instrumented Live Training (ILT-D) contract will replace the existing Direct Fire Weapon Effect Simulator (DFWES) deal between the UK and the defense firm, modernizing the army’s drills with Saab’s newest live simulation system. Direct and indirect fire data will be processed in real time by the capability to provide objective feedback for After-Action Review processes and training validation.
BAE Systems UK won a $7.9 million deal, which will provide heads up displays for AC-130Js and services such as repairs, training, equipping, and initial set up of a repair facility to support. The location of performance is at the contractor’s facilities in Kent, United Kingdom, as well as Warner-Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia. The work is expected to be complete by April 10, 2029. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The contracting activity is Air Force Life Cycle Management Center /WIUKA, Warner-Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia.
Asia-Pacific
China on Thursday announced rare sanctions against two U.S. defense companies over what it called their support for arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy Beijing claims as its own territory to be recovered by force if necessary. The announcement freezes the assets of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems held within China. It also bars the companies’ management from entering the country.
