Americas
* Issues with insulation found inside F-35 fuel tanks has resulted in slower 3rd quarter deliveries of the next-generation fighter, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The comments were made during the release of the company’s third quarter profits, where the shortfall in deliveries was described as “light” this quarter. Fifteen F-35As belonging to the USAF and Norwegian Air Force were grounded in September due to the issue which also affected 42 models still on the production line. Grounded jets are due to return to the skies next month.
* Cobham will develop the aerial refueling kit for the MV-22 Osprey, giving the tilt-rotor aircraft the ability to refuel other aircraft while in flight. Work will commence on modifying their FR300 Hose Drum Unit into a roll-on/roll-off palletized kit for the aircraft and delivery to the US military will start in 2018. Known as the V-22 Aerial Refueling System (VARS), the modified MV-22s will give the USMC the ability to refuel their F-35B Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet jets.
* While heavily redacted, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a 52-page ruling on Boeing’s protest of the B-21 competition won by Northrop Grumman. Quoting “significantly lower proposed prices” for initial production, the agency found Boeing would be hard-pressed to match Northrop’s bid to work on the $80 billion stealth-bomber program. Boeing has slammed the GAO’s analysis as flawed.
* BAE has received a maximum value $600 million deal to provide Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided munitions. Aimed at speeding the delivery of the rockets to the US military and its allies, the contract involves a three-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with an initial award of more than $130 million. Export customers of the APKWS include Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Middle East & North Africa
* Approval has been given by the US State Department to support UAE participation in military exercises. Valued at an estimated $75 million, the deal would support UAE participation in military exercises, aerial refueling, airlift and ferry support, training aids, devices and munitions, technical and logistics support services and other related support functions. The State Department said the sale would improve the country’s ability to use its fighter jets in a coalition setting, adding to its ability to partner in the ongoing campaign against the Islamic State and al-Qaida terror groups.
Africa
* Nigeria is moving ahead with its acquisition of the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft having signed an agreement with Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) last week. Ten trainers valued at $10.2 million have been allocated by the government’s 2016 budget and the deal will include technical support as well as training of personnel in Nigeria. Having already sold the Super Mushshak to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iran and with deals in the pipeline with the Qatari and the Turkish Air Forces, PAC is also targeting several other African nations to add to its sales tally.
Europe
* Airbus will seek compensation from Poland following the government’s shooting down of the previous administration’s 50-unit order for H225M multirole helicopters. Following four years of work on the tender, the company’s chief financial officer Harald Wilhelm said the group “had spent years trusting that it was in a fair competition” and that it would now “seek remedies” from Warsaw. Wilhelm added that the deal “would have committed us to build a competitive aerospace industry in Poland.”
Asia Pacific
* The Philippines have signed an agreement with Japan to lease five Beechcraft TC-90 light reconnaissance aircraft for operation in humanitarian and maritime patrol missions. Cost of the aircraft will be $7,000 each for four, while another will cost $2,000 to lease per annum. The aircraft will increase the capabilities and range currently available to the PAF while giving them a more cost-effective and easier to use Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) than the more complicated P-3C.
Today’s Video
V-22 Aerial refueling Proof of Concept:
