Americas
Boeing won a $9.3 million deal for the AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of November 27, 2027. The AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter is a small and agile military helicopter designed for quick and precise combat operations. It’s often used for close air support, reconnaissance, and special operations. The AH-6 is known for its compact size, making it suitable for operations in confined spaces. It typically carries a variety of weapons, such as machine guns, rockets, and sometimes anti-tank missiles, allowing it to engage enemy targets effectively.
Boeing has received a $2.3-billion deal to build 15 more KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft for the US Air Force. Announced Tuesday, the agreement would allow the service to bolster its aerial refueling and cargo transport capacities. According to company vice president Lynn Fox, the new order reflects the air force’s trust in the capability of the tanker aircraft.
Middle East & Africa
US President Joe Biden wants to ease nearly all restrictions on Israel’s access to America’s weapons stockpile to facilitate smoother supply of defense items. The White House wants to ease access to the War Reserve Stockpile Allies-Israel (WRSA-I), an Israel-based US weapons cache set up in the 1980s for use in the event of a regional conflict.
Europe
Russian forces were ramping up attacks in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, Moscow and Kyiv said, as they vie to secure elusive territorial gains before the end of the year. Despite the frontlines having barely shifted in 2023, fighting has remained intense, with the nearly ecircled industrial town of Avdiivka, the latest major flashpoint.
Slovenia is set to bolster its military capabilities with the acquisition of six advanced AW139M multi-role helicopters from Italy. The deal, signed by Defence Minister Marjan Šarec and his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto, follows an amendment to the implementing agreement on military aviation cooperation between the two nations. Valued at $206 million, the government-to-government transaction includes the cost of certification by the Italian Military Aviation Authority, with an additional annual project management expense of approximately $468,000 for the Italian Ministry of Defence.
Asia-Pacific
A US Osprey military aircraft with eight crew on board crashed on Wednesday off the coast of Japan, the coastguard said. “We received information at 2:47 pm (0547 GMT) today that the US military’s Osprey crashed off Yakushima Island,” a spokeswoman told AFP. “We were also notified that there were eight crew members on board,” she added. “There is no further information at the moment.”
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