Boeing nets JDAM Extension | Saab to provide GlobalEye to Finland | Elbit Systems to supply Drones to Philippines

Americas

Raytheon won a $33 million firm-fixed-price contract to demonstrate a new dual-band towed decoy to help US Navy Super Hornet jet fighter-bomber pilots avoid modern sophisticated enemy radar-guided anti-aircraft missiles. The deal supports the Dual Band Decoy Program, which aims to meet an urgent Navy necessity to protect crews of area-penetrating attack jets like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from enemy radar-guided missiles that operate on two separate frequencies, such as X-band and S-band. Raytheon will demonstrate expanded capabilities of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy and AN/ALE-50 Advanced Airborne Expendable Decoy. The company will perform work in Goleta, California and scheduled completion date is in September 2021.

The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center in Utah awarded Boeing a five-year-extension to an earlier contract for JDAM guided bomb tailkits, spares, repairs and technical services. This deal increases the contract ceiling by over $6.5 billion. The Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kit features a GPS-aided inertial navigational system that essentially converts “dumb” gravity bombs into accurate, guided “smart bombs“, improving their accuracy. Once released, the JDAM autonomously navigates to the designated coordinates. In April, Boeing won a $250 million, 10-year contract for Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kit services. The extension includes Foreign Military Sales funds. Work will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, and will be completed by February 28, 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Reuters reported that Iran would further scale back its compliance with nuclear deal commitments due to the lack of „positive signals“ from fellow signatories to the pact. Tehran has said in May that, unless world powers protected its economy from US sanctions within 60 days, Iran would start enriching uranium at a higher level. Also in May, Iran stopped complying with some of the commitments in the 2015 nuclear deal. The United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and tightened sanctions on Tehran.

Europe

The offer by Saab to deliver its Gripen to Finland also entails two GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, the Swedish company announced via a press release. Saab’s GlobalEye is a multi-role AEW&C solution that can detect and track airborne and surface targets on land as well as on sea. According to Saab, AEW&C capability would increase Finland’s situational awareness and provide increased pre-warning time, supporting the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity. AEW&C systems have shown to provide an efficient deterrent effect whilst enhancing and maximizing the combat effectiveness of a fighter fleet. Saab’s proposal comprises 64 Gripen aircraft, of which 52 are single-seat Gripen E and 12 are dual-seat Gripen F, as well as two GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft. Finland is planning a procurement decision in 2021.

France wants to to purchase an additional H225M, which will be operated by the French Air Force, Airbus said on June 14. The French Defense Procurement Agency DGA has signed the order. The aircraft will reportedly be delivered in a configuration that allows it to be interoperable with the existing fleet of 10 H225Ms in the French Air Force and in particular it will be capable of inflight refueling, an essential operational advantage that this helicopter offers. The French Air Force will utilize the aircraft for Special Forces and Search and Rescue missions. Two Makila 2A1 engines power the multi-purpose H225M, which features a five-blade rotor that provides an exceptionally low vibration level. The modular Spheriflex design of rotor mechanical assemblies allows for lower maintenance.

Asia-Pacific

Israeli defense company Elbit Systems could possibly net a $180 million drone deal with the Philippines Army, Globes reports. Sources apparently say, that the deal, which includes the Hermes 900, Hermes 450, Skylark 1, and Skylark 3 UAV, could possibly be signed in the next couple of weeks. The Philippine Army will use these UAVs for intelligence gathering, patrols, and border defense missions. The Army will adapt the drones to homeland and internal security missions for the Philippines, a country of many islands that faces terrorist threats. The Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 are multi-role drones used for long-range missions. Skylark 1 and Skylark 3 are tactical UAVS designed mainly for use by field units for real time observation and intelligence gathering missions. Skylark 3 is optimized for both dismounted and vehicle-based operation.

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