Archives by category >
Daily Rapid Fire (
RSS)
Mar 26, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
Lockheed Martin won a $832.8 million contract modification to exercise an option for the production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors and associated one-shot devices to support the US government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Foreign Military Sales case requirements. The THAAD interceptors and associated one-shot devices will be procured under fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract line items. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) element provides the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) with a globally transportable, rapidly deployable capability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or just outside the atmosphere during their final, or terminal, phase of flight. Work will take place in Texas, California, Alabama and Arkansas. Estimated completion date is April 1, 2026.
BAE Systems has received a $339 million order from the Army to deliver 48 M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers, the company’s latest deal since the program was approved for full-rate production in February. The M109A7 SPH and M992A3 CAT vehicle set is a vital program enhancement for increased combat capability and sustainment of the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs). The program offers enhanced indirect-fire artillery capabilities to the ABCTs with new technologies for power generation and survivability.
Middle East & Africa
The UK Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerobatic display team has cancelled its annual oversea training deployment due to the coronavirus, and will review its air display commitments for the 2020 season. The decision was announced by the RAF on March 24. It will see the BAE Systems Hawk T1-based display team remain at their homebase of RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire when they would normally decamp to Greece over the coming weeks to take advantage of the good weather conditions. “Given the current restrictions in the UK and many European partner nations to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, the decision has been taken not to send the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, overseas for work-up training this year,” the RAF said in a statement.
Europe
The Spanish Ministry of Defense has utilized an Airbus-owned and operated A400M transport aircraft to deliver face masks to help combat the coronavirus. The airlift, which took place the day prior to Airbus’ announcement on 24 March, saw aircraft MSN56 fly “thousands” of masks from the company’s Toulouse headquarters in southern France to Getafe Air Base near Madrid, in Spain. As noted by Airbus, the masks which were part of a consignment of two million delivered to Europe from China, are destined for use in the Spanish health system. “This air-bridge will enable the delivery of a significant supply of masks to the Spanish public health network in support of current Covid-19 crisis efforts. This comes on top of donations by Airbus in recent days to provide thousands of masks to hospitals and public services around Europe. The company will continue to provide support with additional flights planned to take place in the coming days in co-ordination with national authorities,” the company said in a statement.
Asia-Pacific
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has confirmed that the company is negotiating with Hillwood Aviation for the purchase of four to eight T-50A advanced jet trainers. The US Air Force’s Air Combat Command plans to lease those jets from Hillwood Aviation to train its fighter pilots at their future operational bases. According to a notice posted online by the US General Services Administration in January, the US Air Combat Command plans to contract Hillwood Aviation to provide four to eight of KAI’s T-50A Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer aircraft to help its aviators develop relevant tactical skills before they begin their formal training with the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk.
India is now leasing aerial refueling tankers instead of buying them, Hindustan Times reported. High costs had derailed two previous attempts to acquire new tankers to supplement the Il-78 fleet. Two anonymous sources said leasing the tankers will be more financially viable. India is still exploring whether to wet or dry lease the aircraft. The doors to leasing military hardware were opened for the first time last week with the government unveiling a draft policy on arms acquisition that allows the armed forces to go in for leased capability to cut down on costs associated with purchasing weapons and systems.
Today’s Video
Watch: COUNTER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM OF U.S SPACE FORCE IS OPERATIONAL !
Mar 25, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
The FlightSafety Services on a $25 million contract for a multi-country KC-46 aircrew and maintenance simulator training. The contractor will provide KC-46 aircrew and maintenance training to support the U.S. government and Air Force Security Assistance Training international partners’ mission objectives. The KC-46 is built as an empty 767 airframe in Everett, Wash., then transferred to the south end of Paine Field, called the Military Delivery Center. The jet’s military systems, including the refueling and communications equipment, are installed there. The KC-46 Pegasus is a wide body, multi-role tanker that is capable of carrying a fuel capacity of 212,000 pounds. Work will take place at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Estimated completion will be in September 2026.
Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems won a $29.7 million modification for program management office and engineering services in support of the Surface Ship Undersea Warfare System model AN/SQQ-89(V). The AN/SQQ-89 Undersea Warfare Combat System is a naval anti-submarine warfare system for surface warships developed. The system presents an integrated picture of the tactical situation by receiving, combining and processing active and passive sensor data from the hull-mounted array, towed array and sonobuoys. Work will take place in Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania. Expected completion will be by March 2021.
Middle East & Africa
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) revealed the installation of new avionics in an Alpha Jet it has reactivated when the aircraft was recommissioned by the 407 Air Combat Training Group at Kainji Air Base on March 21. According to Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the avionics upgrade is the first of its kind on the Alpha Jet. It has also significantly improved the aircraft navigation and communications systems, thus increasing safety, reliability, and overall efficiency.
Europe
All over Europe, armies are mobilizing against the outbreak of the coronavirus. UK military chiefs have been ordered to make preparations to call thousands of ex-service personnel back into the Armed Forces to fill gaps in their 20,000-strong force dedicated to support civilian agencies during the Covid-19 crisis if its members start falling sick. According to the Financial Times, the Armed Forces have placed up to 20,000 troops on standby as part of a “covid support force” which could set up makeshift hospitals in vacant hotels and help police officers. A group of 150 military personnel are due to start training next week in how to drive oxygen tankers in order to support the National Health Service’s treatment of coronavirus patients requiring ventilation and critical care.
The British Army announced they have suspended face-to-face recruiting and basic training operations. The Army says training will continue vie online learning tools after face-to-face interaction was postponed indefinitely. An army spokesman said the “virtual platoons” will use the existing Defense Learning Environment, an online portal to which all soldiers have access. No recruits will be ordered to go home. If personnel are worried about spreading or catching the virus, or of placing family members at risk, they will be able to continue living in training barracks, the spokesman said.
Asia-Pacific
North Korea appears to have once again test-fired the same type of short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), similar in appearance to some of the missiles used by the US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), it had launched on August 10 and 16 2019. Although no further details were provided about the road-mobile system, images released by the media outlet showed that two missiles were fired from a tracked transporter-erector-launcher. The move, which marked North Korea’s third firing of SRBMs this year, is a further indication that Pyongyang continues to modernize its tactical missile systems. The country had tested its super-large multiple rocket launcher from its eastern regions on and March 2 and 9, after having tested the SRBM system four times in 2019.
Today’s Video
Watch: Japan commissions first Maya-class guided-missile destroyer!
Mar 24, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
BAE Systems won an $8.6 million contract modification, which provides for the procurement of 20 E-2 parachute survival ensemble units and 130 FLU-10 inflators for the Navy, in addition to 60 E-2 parachute survival ensemble units and 70 FLU-10 inflators for the government of Japan. The E-2 Hawkeye is the Navy’s all-weather, carrier-based tactical battle management airborne early warning, command and control aircraft. The E-2 is a twin engine, five crewmember, high-wing turboprop aircraft with a 24-foot diameter radar rotodome attached to the upper fuselage. Work will take place in Phoenix, Arizona and Orchard Park, New York. Estimated completion will be in November 2023.
Oshkosh Defense LLC won a $17.4 million contract modification to exercise an option covering priced man-hours, labor, material and fees on material for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) system technical support JLTV retrofit efforts. Estimated completion date is December 30, 2020. The company also won a $16.8 million modification to exercise options for packaged kits for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle family of vehicles with an expected completion date of November 30, 2023. Oshkosh Defense is a global leader in the design, production and sustainment of best-in-class military vehicles and mobility systems. The company developed its JLTV for the US Army and Marine Corps, to replace the aging fleet of High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV/Humvee). Work will take place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Middle East & Africa
Russia and Turkey are negotiating the possible delivery of an additional batch of S-400 Triumf air-defense systems to Ankara, the director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS), Dmitry Shugayev, said on March 16. He reported that the negotiations are at an advanced stage and technical issues have been agreed. “We are planning to sign the second contract for the S-400s in the foreseeable future. This deal suggests some involvement of the Turkish side in the production of hardware,” said Shugayev, describing the co-operation with Turkey as “mutually beneficial”. Turkey has received a first S-400 regiment and its crews are being trained.
Europe
Leading aerospace companies have responded to the UK government’s call to develop and build ventilators to help cope with the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Airbus and GKN are set to join other aerospace and automotive companies to develop and build a ventilator prototype in the coming days, ahead of large-scale production within a month. Other aerospace companies named at this stage comprise Meggitt, Thales, and Renishaw, while McLaren and Nissan are to lead two separate consortia from the automotive sector. According to the Financial Times (FT) which first reported the development, the three consortia aim to manufacture 5,000 ventilators urgently, with a further 30,000 to follow in time. The Birmingham-based research centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult is to lead the overall effort, which is being backed by the UK government’s business ministry.
Both the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) and the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) scheduled for later this year were cancelled within minutes of each other on March 20. The organizers of FIA said that the 2020 running of the biennial event, which was due to take place from July 20 to 24, will not now happen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. At about the same time, the organizers of RIAT, which was due to take place from July 17 to 19, said the same thing. The FIA and RIAT events are arguably the two most important gatherings in the UK aviation calendar and the loss of both will come as a huge setback to the industry.
Asia-Pacific
India has won a $40 million defense deal to supply military radars to Armenia. Under the deal, India will supply four indigenously-built weapons-locating radars to Armenia. Russian and Polish firms were also in the race for the deal. The supply of the equipment to Armenia has already begun under the ‘Make in India’ initiative and this is being considered as a big achievement. Reports also stated that Armenia had conducted various trials of the systems offered by Russia and Poland. Even though the Russian and Polish systems were good, they decided to ahead with the reliability of the Indian system.
Today’s Video
Watch: U.S SUCCESSFULLY TESTS COMMON-HYPERSONIC GLIDE BODY HYPERSONIC WEAPON !
Mar 23, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
Lockheed Martin Space won a $601.3 million modification for the submarine-launched ballistic missile (model) Trident II D5 production and deployed systems support. The Trident D5 or UGM-133A Trident II is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California, and deployed with the American and British navies. It was first deployed in March 1990. A total of 14 US Navy submarines are armed with Trident II ballistic missiles, each carrying 24 missiles. The Trident missile has a range from 6,400 to 11,250 km. The dimensions of the Trident II missile are 1,360 cm long with a diameter of 210 cm, and the weight is 59,000 kg. The Trident II missile is deployed aboard Ohio-class submarines, each capable of carrying 24 missiles. Under the provisions of the Polaris Sales Agreement, it is also carried aboard the United Kingdom’s Vanguard-class submarines. Work will take place in Utah, California, Colorado, Florida and Virginia. Estimated completion will be in September 2024.
Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems won a $98.7 million contract for sustainment of the Littoral Combat Ship Component Based Total Ship System – 21st Century -(LCS COMBATSS-21); and associated combat system elements. The work includes development, integration, test and delivery of future combat system baseline upgrades for in-service ships, supporting ship integration, installation and checkout, developmental test/operational test, developing training and logistics products, providing field technical support for combat systems, providing hardware engineering, equipment procurement and providing life-cycle supportability engineering and fleet support for fielded baselines. The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom variant and the Independence variant, designed and built by two industry teams. The Freedom variant team is led by Lockheed Martin (for the odd-numbered hulls, e.g. LCS 1). It is a steel monohull design constructed by Lockheed Martin in the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Corporation’s shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. Work will take place in Virginia and Florida as well as various other locations.
Middle East & Africa
Environmental Chemical Corp. won a $9.8 million task order modification under the global contingency construction, multiple award contract for the exercise of Option One, which provides for the design, fabrication, transportation and installation of a waterside obstacle system at Mina Salman, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain. Environmental Chemical Corporation is a chemical solution manufacturer. The Company supplies industrial chemical products such as metal cleaners, drain cleaners, and polishes to commercial organization. Work will take place at Mina Salman, NSA Bahrain and estimated completion will be by August 2020.
Europe
France is taking measures to assure people are staying inside during the coronavirus-crisis. The european country is calling up helicopters and drones to boost the government’s attempts to keep people in their homes, police officials said Saturday. One helicopter was already in use on Saturday, hovering above major Paris parks to ensure that confinement rules were respected. Meanwhile the French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly announced on March 18 that the army, armed forces medical services, and air force would help fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The Army’s medical regiment is preparing a military mobile intensive care unit that will be deployed in the following days in Mulhouse next to the town’s hospital. Eastern France is one of the areas of the country that has been most impacted by the virus.
Asia-Pacific
The Hindu is reporting that four P-8I that India is buying will be delivered starting from May. The Indian Navy had exercise its option for the four aircraft as part of its purchase for 8 P-8Is. Delivery of the new aircraft is expected to be completed by 2022. These systems are available to India following the conclusion of the foundational agreement Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) with the US. In November 2019, the Defense Acquisition Council, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of six additional P-8I aircraft. These aircraft, for which the deal is being processed, would come fitted with the encrypted systems as and when they are delivered.
India is fast-tracking negotiations to acquire 10 Russian-made Kamov Ka-31 ‘Helix’ airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) helicopters in time for the expected commissioning in 2021 of Vikrant, the Indian Navy’s indigenously designed aircraft carrier. The Indian Navy wants to finalize the Ka-31 import, which was approved by the Ministry of Defense in May 2019 for an estimated $478.8 million, given that up to four of the AEW&C platforms are expected to be embarked on the 37,750-tonne carrier.
Today’s Video
Watch: MEET THE BERRET MULTI-ROLE ADAPTIVE DESIGN SNIPER RIFLE OF U.S MILITARY !
Mar 20, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
Colonna Shipyards won an $8.9 million deal for an 80-day shipyard availability for the emergency dry-docking of Navy Ship Spearhead (T-EPF 1). The Spearhead Class Expeditionary Fast Transport shipbuilding program to provide “a platform intended to support users in the Department of the Navy and Department of the Army. The Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) program is a cooperative effort for a high-speed, shallow draft vessel intended for rapid intratheater transport of medium-sized cargo payloads. The Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) is a shallow draft, all aluminum, commercial-based catamaran capable of intra-theater personnel and cargo lift, providing combatant commanders high-speed sealift mobility with inherent cargo handling capability and agility to achieve positional advantage over operational distances. Work will take place in Norfolk, Virginia and is expected to be finished 2020.
DoD is slated to receive $8.3 billion to fight COVID-19 in a new White House request, Breaking Defense reports. Not one of the Navy’s 82 ships currently underway has received coronavirus test kits for their crews. “There are currently no FDA approved testing platforms that are suitable for placement on forward operating Naval Ships,” a Navy official told Breaking Defense. The Navy official also said the fleet has three ships “with preventative medicine teams aboard with portable testing machines. These machines are currently only approved to do surveillance testing for COVID-19.” That testing can detect signs of different illnesses, but cannot identify COVID-19. Currently, only one aircraft carrier, an amphibious ship, and the USS Blue Ridge command ship have the surveillance test machines. Meanwhile the New York Times reports that the virus is spreading across the Navy with military medical investigators probing what officials say is the second confirmed coronavirus test tied to the crew of the amphibious warship Boxer.The coronavirus pandemic has caused over 8,000 deaths worldwide.
Middle East & Africa
Construction Helicopters won a $34 million task order modification, which provides continued support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Air Command-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command. The services provide dedicated rotary wing air transportation to move passengers, cargo and human remains as well as perform casualty evacuation in support of the Afghan Air Force. The services provide dedicated rotary wing air transportation to move passengers, cargo and human remains as well as perform casualty evacuation in support of the Afghan Air Force. Work will take place in Afghanistan. Option period of performance is from March 19, 2020 to March 18, 2021.
Navistar Defense won an $11.4 million Foreign Military Sale to Iraq. The deal provides for 6×6 and 4×4 general transport trucks, recovery vehicles, and spare parts. Work will take place in Springfield, Ohio, and Ooltewah, Tennessee. Estimated complete date is February 28, 2021. The US Army Contacting Command is the contracting activity.
Europe
According to Jane’s, the Eurofighter consortium has a strategy in place to ensure that work across its four national production lines continues amidst the worsening coronavirus crisis. The deliveries to the four partner nations of Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK are all recently completed. The pan-European consortium has now introduced plans to protect the delivery of its outstanding orders for Kuwait and Qatar. The program-of-record (PoR) for the Eurofighter partner nations of 160 aircraft for the UK, 143 for Germany, 96 for Italy, and 73 for Spain was concluded in January. The export orders of 15 aircraft for Austria, 12 for Oman, and 72 for Saudi Arabia, had already been delivered, leaving an outstanding backlog of 28 aircraft for Kuwait and 24 for Qatar. To satisfy these Kuwaiti and Qatari orders, all four national production lines will manufacture parts, with final assembly to take place at Caselle and Warton respectively. The delivery of these two orders, expected from late 2020 to 2023 for Kuwait and from 2022 to an unspecified date in the mid-2020s for Qatar, will conclude the 623-aircraft PoR for the partner nations and export customers.
Asia-Pacific
Recent reports might be hinting that the company’s JL-9 advanced jet trainer will soon be converted for carrier-borne operations. The company said it will secure naval Mountain Eagle (JL-9) development and production victory. Of note, the JL-9 is in service with the People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF) as a land-based trainer. Having been already delivered to the Chinese Navy, the naval version of the JL-9 is now training aircraft carrier jet pilots on land-based airfields, but China still does not have an aircraft carrier-based trainer aircraft that can take off and land on an actual carrier.
Today’s Video
Watch: Indian Defence Updates : S-80 Plus Submarine Offer P75I,K-30 Deal Approval,NATGRID Delay,BRO Trial
Mar 19, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
The Haskell Co. won a $9.5 million contract for the construction of the P680 CH-53K cargo loading tower at the Marine Corps Air Station in New River, North Carolina. Work will provide a high-bay facility that will house an operations trainer to support CH-53K helicopter pilot and crew chief training program. Construction includes a deep pile foundation, grade beams and reinforced concrete slabs to provide the building’s base while reinforced concrete masonry unit exterior walls and a standing seam metal roof provide the building enclosure. This facility will provide a covered, all-weather training environment for the ground operations aircrew trainer, a fuselage trainer device, pallet storage, retrieval and build-out packages associated with troop deployment and mobility. The facility includes high-bay roll-up doors and concrete drive aprons to accommodate moving the aircraft frame in and out of the building. Work will take place in New River, North Carolina. Estimated completion date is April 2022.
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin to design and manufacture next-generation infrared seekers for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system, the company announced on March 17. Part of the design work will be conducted in Huntsville, Alabama. The THAAD weapon system intercepts hostile ballistic missiles with kinetic force during their final, or terminal, phase of flight. BAE Systems’ seeker provides infrared imagery that guides interceptors to their intended targets, destroying enemy warheads inside or outside the Earth’s atmosphere. The company has been developing and producing missile defense seeker technology for more than four decades, and has delivered more than 500 THAAD seekers to date.
Middle East & Africa
Israel’s defense companies are preparing to prevent damage to production of weaponry, which is mostly for the IDF, Israel Defense reports. The spread of the coronavirus forces many countries all over the world to take strict measures. The defense sector in Israel is also adopting to tackle the threat from COVID-19. Employees of defense firms were instructed to avoid crowded places such as restaurants, pubs, Purim parties and so on, out of an understanding that a critical facility could be shut down if even one employee is infected. Ministry of Health directives stipulate limiting large conferences of 5,000 people or more, and companies are understandably not taking risks. Under a Defense Ministry directive, every defense company must have a wartime emergency plan. This plan defines procedures for operational continuity but it is not suitable for pandemics, and as a result it is being expanded to address the Coronavirus outbreak. Every major company has overlapping production lines in Israel and abroad for some of its products. In this manner, it is possible to transfer mass production if a few locations cease to function. However, there is no such solution for the extreme case of a national pandemic. If the government does not perform geographical segmentation in time and does not inspect the areas where the factories are located, it is possible that the Israeli defense sector will be on the verge of shutdown, Israel Defense reports.
Europe
Germany will end its Tornado reconnaissance flights against the so-called Islamic State (IS) on March 31, the Ministry of Defense announced on March 11 after the federal government extended the mandate of other German forces in Iraq. Four Luftwaffe Tornado reconnaissance aircraft have been operating from Al-Azraq in Jordan in support of the coalition since July 2017 after previously having conducted the mission from Incirlik, Turkey. The German MoD said the reconnaissance mission would be taken over by Italy, which deployed Eurofighters to Al Mubarak in Kuwait early last year, taking over the reconnaissance mission from AMX aircraft in March 2019. The Eurofighters are fitted with the Reccelite II reconnaissance pod, complementing the Italian Predator unmanned aerial vehicles also deployed to Al Mubarak. The Luftwaffe will continue to provide aerial refueling to the anti-IS coalition. This mission has been conducted from Al-Azraq since July 2017 by a Luftwaffe Airbus A310 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), which was joined by an A400M air-to-air refueling version in July 2019.
As part of its 2019 defense procurement program, the Swiss Army recently placed an order with Rheinmetall for the VarioRay LLM laser light module. A contract to this effect was signed in December 2019 with Switzerland’s Federal Office for Defence Procurement (Armasuisse). Delivery of 9,640 devices is set to commence in May 2020 and be complete by the end of 2022. The order is worth a figure in the lower two-digit euro million range. The Swiss Army calls the laser light LLM 19 and it will be used on the Swiss soldiers’ assault rifles, as part of Germany’s Future Soldier System-Extended System (IdZ-ES) when used by the German Army. In fact, the British Army also employs the system, under the name Laser LightModule MK3.
Asia-Pacific
Earlier this month, Japan’s defense chief paid a visit to Vietnam. While the interaction was just one of several scheduled engagements between the two sides, it nonetheless spotlighted some of the ongoing activity in the naval aspect of their defense relationship. Vietnam and Japan have agreed to expand collaboration in naval shipbuilding projects, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND) has said. The MND said Vietnam and Japan have agreed to “implement a co-operation project in the field of shipbuilding [and] technology transfers in military shipbuilding”. It added that the new agreement also facilitates Japanese support to Vietnam in “defense industrial technical training” as well as sharing defense industry “expertise and experiences”.
Today’s Video
Watch: AC-130W STINGER II GUNSHIP, P-8A POSEIDON & CYCLONE PATROL BOATS TAKE ON SMALL BOATS IN EXERCISE !
Mar 18, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
Raytheon won a $18.2 million delivery order for the repair of the APG 65/73 radar systems in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. Originally developed by the Hughes Aircraft Company, now Raytheon, the AN/APG-65 radar systems have been in regular use by the US Navy and Marine Corps, along with foreign militaries, since the early 1980s, and the AN/APG-73 has been in use since its development in the early 1990s, according to Raytheon. The AN/APG-73 was integrated into upgraded F/A-18 Hornet aircraft models C and D, along with early editions of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Work will take place in Indiana and is expected by March 2022.
General Dynamics Electric won a $13.1 million deal for additional fiscal 2020 development studies and design efforts for Virginia Class Submarines. The Virginia Class new attack submarine is an advanced stealth multimission nuclear-powered submarine for deep ocean anti-submarine warfare and littoral (shallow water) operations. The Electric Boat division of General Dynamics, Connecticut, is the lead design authority for the Virginia Class. General Dynamics Electric Boat has built the first of the class – Virginia (SSN 774), and Northrop Grumman Newport News the second – Texas (SSN 775). Work will take place in McLeansville, North Carolina and will be complete by September 2020.
Middle East & Africa
The USS Carney conducted a scheduled port visit in Cape Town, South Africa, while patrolling European and African waters with the US 6th Fleet. The Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, stationed in Rota, Spain, made the weekend visit on March 15 at the invitation of Lana Marks, US ambassador to South Africa. Marks attended a brief ceremony aboard the ship. “This visit of the USS Carney to Cape Town is a symbol of the United States’ commitment to encouraging commerce with Africa, protecting sea routes for the benefit of all countries, and promoting trade with South Africa,” she said, “and this visit is just the beginning of even stronger and ever more amazing relations between our two militaries and our two countries.” The ship traveled to South Africa from the Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean, and will continue westward.
Europe
The budget committee of the Bundestag, the German parliament, approved the launch of the systems architecture definition phase for the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), the German Ministry of Defense announced. The ministry described the two-year study as “an important next step in the continuation of German-French co-operation” and in the realization of the jointly funded MGCS project. The MGCS will replace the German Leopard 2 and French Leclerq tanks starting in the mid-2030s, retaining mechanized combat capabilities and developing them in line with the threat, especially for fighting armored forces within the framework of territorial and alliance defense, according to the German MoD.
Asia-Pacific
The Indian Navy will lease a 260 meter berth in a private shipyard in Kattupalli for its indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The warship was suppose to make Vishakhapatnam its home port but the base is not ready to receive the ship. The lease for the berth is from 2022 to 2030. India has plans of having at least two aircraft carriers at any point of time looking after the eastern and western seaboards to look after the vast exclusive economic zone and maritime boundaries.
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has received a $325 million contract to design and build the first Ulsan Class Batch III frigate for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN). The contract, which has been signed with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, was announced on March 16. The vessel is the first of six 3,500-tonne frigates planned for the batch. The contract covers detailed designed work and construction of the first-of-class. HHI received the contract to carry out basic design work for the batch in 2016. The frigate can utilize its electric propulsion systems during anti-submarine operations to minimize its acoustic signatures. Accordingly, the vessel will rely on gas turbine propulsion when it needs to operate at high speeds, said HHI.
Today’s Video
Watch: RUSSIA WRAPS ITSELF WITH S 400 AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM MAKING IN ALMOST INVULNERABLE TO AIR STRIKES !
Mar 17, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
Northrop Grumman won a $49.1 million contract modification for engineering services to support the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules Program. The deal modifies a contract awarded in March 2017. It funds engineering services for gun mission modules, including support for outfitting and installation, interim deport level maintenance, engineering support and sustainment as well as incidental costs related to engineering services for mission modules. LCS mission modules will have the capability to be changed, tested and available to be deployed within 24 hours. Work will take place in New York, Florida, California,Massachusetts, Florida and Washington DC. Estimated completion will be by March 2021.
Lockheed Martin and the US Navy are set to integrate the High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system onto an Arleigh Burke destroyer in 2021. The move comes after the laser system underwent the US Navy’s Critical Design Review (CDR). Set to undergo system integration in Moorestown, New Jersey this year, the HELIOS system will then be tested at the Wallops Island Navy land-based test site. This is expected to significantly reduce program risk prior to its delivery to a shipyard for integration into an Arleigh Burke destroyer. HELIOS will become an integrated component of the destroyer’s Aegis combat system.
Middle East & Africa
Iran’s primary way of threatening the US and its allies in the region is its inventory of about 2,500-3,000 ballistic missiles, US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander General Kenneth McKenzie told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 10. Gen McKenzie did not breakdown the types of missiles that make up this arsenal but indicated most are shorter-range weapons when he explained why the US military is moving more assets to Prince Sultan Air Base in central Saudi Arabia. He confirmed that the US is also moving air defense assets to Iraq, where he said the US has around 5,000 soldiers deployed, to defend against Iranian ballistic missile attacks. Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) attacked US personnel at Ain al-Asad Air Base on January 8 in retaliation for the assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani, a high-profile IRGC commander who developed and directed pro-Iranian militant groups across the region.
Europe
The UK Government has sent aid to the Turkey-Syria border, which it says will provide much-needed relief and protection for Syrians amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Idlib. A Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter carrying 37 tonnes of UK aid landed in Hayat on March 11. The supplies on board include tents to provide life-saving shelter, hygiene kits, blankets, water purification tablets, cooking equipment and lanterns for around 300 families who have been forced to flee their homes and seek safety in harsh conditions. The aid supplies are being distributed in the worst affected areas including Idlib in north west Syria, with the cooperation of the Turkish Red Crescent. The UK is one of the largest bilateral donors to the Syria crisis, providing more than £3.1 billion to trusted partners in Syria and the region since 2011.
Asia-Pacific
India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has assured that the delivery of four Rafale fighters to India is still on schedule despite worries over the spread of coronavirus. Speaking on television program ‘Aap Ki Adalat’, Singh said the jets are expected to be home by end of May. His assertion comes in the wake of reports that Coronavirus scare may hit the delivery schedule of four Rafale jets which were expected in May this year. The four Rafale jets will be inducted in the Indian Air Force at its station in Ambala.
Brunei has announced a defense budget of $430 million for 2020-21. The country’s Ministry of Defense said on March 12 that the new budget is a 0.27 per cent increase over the allocation in 2019-20. The 2020-21 defense budget amounts to about 10 per cent of total government expenditure for the year. MINDEF said the defense budget reinforced the country’s three-pillar defense policy – diplomacy, deterrence, and ‘holistic defense’ – in addressing the country’s challenges, which include protecting Brunei’s assets in the South China Sea, cyber defense, and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Today’s Video
Watch: Indian Defence Updates : REGIONAL GLIDE PHASE WEAPON SYSTEM IN ARLEIGH BURKE WARSHIPS WILL KNOCK DOWN ENEMY HGVs !
Mar 16, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
Alliant Techsystems Operations won a $165 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure Lot Nine, full rate production of Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM). This modification includes the conversion of Advanced Guided Missile-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles into 253 AGM-88E AARGM all up rounds for the Navy, and two Captive Air Training Missiles for the government of Germany. Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system. It has the capability to perform Destruction of Enemy Air Defense missions and is an upgrade to the US Navy AGM-88 HARM system. AARGM is able to rapidly engage traditional and advanced land- and sea-based air defense threats, as well as non-radar, time-sensitive strike targets. Northrop Grumman’s potential material solution to the US Navy’s AARGM Extended Range requirement utilizes existing AARGM sensors, electronics and warhead. AARGM is an air-launched missile with the capability to rapidly engage air-defense threats. AARGM is currently deployed with the US Navy and US Marine Corps on the F/A-18C/D Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft. AARGM is also integrated on the Italian Air Force’s Tornado Electronic Combat aircraft.
Northrop Grumman Systems won an $86.2 million modification, which exercises options to provide sustainment, engineering, logistics and test support for MQ-4C Triton aircraft mission control and operator training systems. In addition, this effort includes procurement of field service representative’s technical support to ensure that the MQ-4C unmanned surveillance aircraft are mission-capable for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions supporting early operational capability. The Navy will obligate $200K from fiscal year 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds; $5.8M from fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds; and $55.5M from fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds at the time of award, with $5.8M set to expire at the end of the current Fiscal Year. The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude long endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle designed for the US Navy as a surveillance aircraft. Work will take place in Maryland, Florida, Guam and California and estimated completion will be by March 2021.
Middle East & Africa
Boeing won an $8 million contract modification, which exercises an option to continue phase one design maturity, analysis and test planning for the Stand-off Land Attack Missile – Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) production line in support of the government of Saudi Arabia. SLAM-ER, a derivative of Harpoon, is an air-dropped surgical strike weapon against high-value land targets or ships at sea or in port. A highly accurate man-in-the-loop cruise missile, SLAM-ER can be launched from a range of more than 150 nautical miles and is reprogrammable in flight, according to Boeing. Work will take place in Missouri, Indiana, Florida, Michigan, and various other locations within the US. Estimate completion will be in March 2020.
Europe
The second of nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime multimission aircraft (MMA) for the Royal Air Force arrived in the United Kingdom on March 13. Aircraft ZP802 flew into Kinloss Barracks in Scotland some six weeks after the first aircraft, ZP801 Pride of Moray, arrived from the United States on February 4. Both these aircraft and the remaining seven to be delivered will be operated from RAF Lossiemouth a short distance away from Kinloss Barracks, when construction of new facilities is to be completed later in the year. Operations are set to commence in early Q4 2020, with the type being flown by 120 Squadron and 201 Squadron, with 54 Squadron serving as the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). The delivery of the first Poseidon MRA1s marks a major milestone in the reconstitution of the UK’s airborne maritime patrol capability that was put on hiatus in 2010 with the retirement of the BAE Systems Nimrod MR2 and the cancellation of its Nimrod MRA4 replacement. Once fully operational, the Poseidons will assume responsibility for protecting the Royal Navy’s two new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, as well as undertaking their baseline maritime patrol aircraft and anti-submarine warfare roles.
Marshall Advanced Composites signed an $11.6 million contract with Lockheed Martin to manufacture and supply cockpit trim panels for its C-130J Super Hercules airlifter for the next five years. “We are delighted to have received this five-year contract from Lockheed Martin. It really is testament to the hard work of the team and strength of our partnership with Lockheed Martin“, said Advanced Composites General Manager, Carl Morse. He continued: “We’ve been supplying the panels for over 20 years and have historically been on a series of relatively short term contracts, however our proven ability to drive cost out of the supply, outstanding on-time delivery record and appetite to innovate our processes has given our customer the confidence to make another long-term commitment. The panels are manufactured at Marshall’s composites facility in North Yorkshire from phenolic glass fibre sandwich panels with a Nomex honeycomb core, followed by finishing operations such as painting, electrical assembly and integration to provide Lockheed Martin with lineside kits of plug and play parts to their Marietta facility.
Asia-Pacific
India is struggling to finalize the date for induction of the first four Rafale jets amid speculations of delayed delivery of fighter jets from France due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. The first four Rafale fighters India ordered from France were supposed to return home in May but that could be delayed. India is now waiting for Dassault Aviation to respond back on the date of the flight but there are indications that the current coronavirus situation has affected those plans. Ambala Air Force station, which will be home to the first four Rafale jets, is getting ready itself for the induction ceremony. Infrastructure facilities, including hanger bays, have been created in Ambala for the first squadron of Rafale jets named as 17 Squadron or the Golden Arrows. The second squadron of Rafale will be stationed at Hasimara base in West Bengal to counter the Chinese threat.
Today’s Video
Watch: Indian Defence Updates : India’s 1st UGCV Sooran,500 TAR Delivered,Desi UCAV, VSHORAD Deal Approval
Mar 13, 2020 05:00 UTC
Americas
Raytheon Missile won a $109.6 million contract modification for MK 15 Close-In Weapon System upgrades and conversions, system overhauls and associated hardware. MK 15 Phalanx CIWS provides ships of the US Navy with an inner layer point defense capability against anti-ship missiles, aircraft and littoral warfare threats that have penetrated other fleet defenses. Phalanx automatically detects, evaluates, tracks, engages and performs kill assessment against ASM and high speed aircraft threats. The current Phalanx variant adds the ability to counter asymmetric warfare threats through the addition of an integrated, stabilized, Electro Optic sensor. Work will take place Kentucky, Arizona, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Arizona, Missouri, Utah, Texas. Estimated completion will be by October 2023.
The US Marine Corps has indicated that besides the Naval Strike Missile, the service intends to field the Maritime Strike Tomahawk missile for anti-ship role as well. It could be mounted on the same unmanned Joint Light Tactical Vehicle that the Marines is using for the Naval Strike Missile, Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration Lt. Gen. Eric Smith told lawmakers. In December the Marines shot a “slug” or inert round off the top of a JLTV to prove the missile could launch in that manner, and the test was successful. This effort is similar to work that was done with Lockheed’s Hellfire air-to-surface missile when the Navy wanted to put it on LCSs – the missile’s effectiveness was already proven, but testing needed to confirm that it could get going from a vertical launch off a ship deck instead of a horizontal launch from under an aircraft in flight.
Middle East & Africa
The US Army awarded Raytheon a $551 million contract to begin production of the Patriot air and missile defense system for the Kingdom of Bahrain. The contract was awarded on January 31, 2020. “Raytheon’s Patriot provides the Kingdom of Bahrain and 16 other countries around the globe with a combat-proven system that protects citizens, infrastructure and armed forces from a broad spectrum of threats,” said Tom Laliberty, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems business. “Patriot works, has saved countless lives, and will continue to do so for many years because the system is constantly tested, modernized, upgraded and improved to stay ahead of the advancing threat.” In August 2019, Bahrain signed a letter of offer and acceptance agreement to purchase Patriot air and missile defense systems from the US Army. The agreement allowed the US Government to start contract negotiations with the Patriot system manufacturer Raytheon for the production of the systems and missiles.
Europe
As part of NATO’s latest historic ordnance disposal operations, Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) has mapped 35 underwater mines and 3 aircraft bombs in the seabed of Norway’s Oslofjord. The operations were conducted with support from the Royal Norwegian Mine Warfare Datacenter, who embarked aboard the German flagship FGS Donau during the operations. During the recent years the RNoN Mine Warfare Datacenter have studied historical publications and logbooks, and have traced the actual amounts of mines used, and the precise position where they were dropped in the Oslofjord. Historic ordnance disposal operation ran between Feb. 24 and 4 March. The operation identified 170 underwater objects in total, after which these were examined more closely by underwater remote controlled vehicles or divers.
Asia-Pacific
Len Industri and Thales have signed a contract to completely upgrade the mission system of the Indonesian Navy’s KRI Usman-Harun multi-role light frigate. For the last 40 years, Thales has been supplying combat systems for all ships in service for the Indonesian Navy. Len Industri is serving as the systems integrator for the frigate’s Mid Life Modernization (MLM) program. The upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 and will extend the life of the KRI Usman-Harun frigate, which has more than 15 years of service under its belt. Under the contract, Len Industri and Thales will install the TACTICOS Combat Management System, the SMART-S Mk2 air and surface surveillance radar on the frigate. The companies will also install the STIR EO Mk2 radar and EO fire control system, as well as the Vigile Mk2 tactical multi-purpose R-ESM system.
Japan has secured its first export of military surveillance radars with a contract from the Philippines. Mitsubishi Electric Corp. was awarded the contract to supply three fixed and one mobile radar systems worth $103 million. The company has offered its J/FPS-3 radar for the bid. Delivery is expected to start next year. Officials said that this marked the first time that Japan has secured a contract to export military hardware, a few years after it lifted decades of self-imposed ban on arms exports in 2014. The equipment would bolster the country’s airspace radar coverage amid continuing external security challenges including China’s expansion in the West Philippine Sea.
Today’s Video
Watch: INDIA TO REPLACE RUSSIAN R-77 WITH I-DERBY ER AFTER IT FAILED AGAINST U.S MADE PAKISTANI AIM 120C !
1
2
3
…
248
Next » 
