Americas
Boeing won a $75.1 million contract modification, which exercises options to provide aircraft inspections, modifications and repairs as well as inner wing panel (IWP) modifications and repairs for the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G series aircraft. These efforts restore the aircraft and IWP to meet service life projections in accordance with new design specifications. The US Navy F/A-18 E and F Super Hornets are twin-engine, carrier-capable multirole fighter aircraft. Super Hornet is about 25% larger than its predecessor the F/A-18C/D, but contains 42% fewer structural parts. The single-seat F/A-18/E and the two-seat F/A-18/F fly greater ranges with heavier payloads, have more powerful engines and provide greater survivability. Work will take place in Florida, Missouri and California. Estimated completion will be in September 2021.
Boeing won a $21.9 million contract modification, which exercises an option for test and evaluation support for Next Generation Jammer integration on the EA-18G aircraft. The Next Generation Jammer is a program to develop an airborne electronic warfare system, as a replacement for the AN/ALQ-99 found on the EA-18G military aircraft. It will reach Initial Operating Capability in 2021. The EA-18G Growler is an airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft, capable of operating either from an aircraft carrier or from land-bases. The Growler was developed as a replacement for the US Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft that entered service in 1971 and retired in March 2019. Work will take place in Missouri and estimated completion will be in September, 2021.
Middle East & Africa
Lockheed Martin has awarded Israeli defense company Elbit Systems – Cyclone a contract to supply additional complex composite structural assemblies for forward equipment bay assemblies on all F-35 variants. The deal is in an amount that is not material to Elbit Systems and will be performed over a period of four-years. The contract calls for Elbit Systems to supply assemblies for the F-35’s Forward Equipment Bay – made from composite materials and the associated structures – for all F-35 aircraft variants. Elbit Systems will deliver more than 1,400 components to Lockheed Martin during the contract period.
Europe
Germany is establishing a new multinational unit to operate the Airbus A400M transport aircraft, with Hungary committed as its first partner. The Bundeswehr announced that the Multinational Air Transport Unit (MNAU) was being established at Wunstorf Air Base in northern Germany, home to the Luftwaffe’s A400M force. This new international unit will relocate to Lechfeld Air Base in the far south of the country with 10 of the Luftwaffe’s 53 contracted A400Ms, as well as additional A400Ms that might be provided by partner nations.
Russia’s Western Military District reports that a Su-30SM had crashed in the Tver region on September 22 during a training flight. Both pilots were able to eject safely. Later in the day, a post on Telegram said the jet has hit by cannon rounds fired from a Su-35 during dogfight training. The rounds were not remove from the Su-35 and as the pilot pulled the trigger to record the kill, the cannon fired and hit the Su-30SM.
Asia-Pacific
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visited the airbase on Penghu island today and the IDF detachment there displayed the Wan Chien cruise missile for all to see. The Wan Chien is an indigenous land attack missile similar to the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon. It is carried by the IDF. The significance of the indigenous Wan Chien missile within the ROCAF armory in particular is its ability to be launched from F-CK-1C/Ds operating above the Taiwan Strait and hit targets on the Chinese mainland.
Today’s Video
Watch: USAF’S U-2 ‘DRAGON LADY’ HAS SUCCESSFULLY GATHERED INFORMATION ON CHINESE MILITARY DURING DRILL !
