Americas
Oshkosh is receiving an extra $11.9 million in funding to continue work on the US Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Retrofit Work Directive. The JLTV is being developed by the Army and the Marine Corps as a successor to the High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), which has been in service since 1985. The JLTV has two variants; a two seat and a four seat variant, as well as a companion trailer. The vehicle offers the Core1080 crew protection for survivability, turret operated systems, remote weapons systems, and tube-launched missile system. The vehicle can be fitted with light, medium, and heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, smoke grenade launchers, or anti-tank missiles, operated from ring mounts or a remote weapon station. In early 2019, the Army will reportedly field 500 JLTVs to an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) in the 10th Mountain Division at Ft. Drum, NY, and 65 JLTVs to an Infantry Battalion with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) at Camp Lejeune, NC. Work will be performed at Oshkosh’s factory in Wisconsin and is scheduled to run through December 13, 2019.
Canadian Commercial Corp. is being contracted to support the US Navy’s AN/SQQ-89(V) Surface Ship ASW Combat System. The awarded IQIQ contract is priced at $10 million and provides for the refurbishment and manufacturing of the TR-343 transducer tube assemblies. The assemblies are a critical component of the TR-343 transducer that is used in the AN/SQS-53C hull-mounted sonar array, a subsystem of the above mentioned combat system. The AN/SQQ-89(V) provides surface warships with a seamlessly integrated undersea/anti-submarine warfare detection, localization, classification and targeting capability. The AN/SQS-53 is a computer controlled sonar set provided to surface ships which features both active and passive mode. Its primary sensor is hull mounted transducer array. In addition to search, detection and track of submarine threats, SQS-53C is responsible for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapons fire control and guidance to its assigned underwater target. Work will be performed at the company’s location in Toronto, Canada and is scheduled for completion by November 2023.
French aerospace company Dassault is withdrawing from Canada’s fighter jet competition. Ottawa issued an initial draft bid package for 88 fighter aircraft to industry partners last month and expects their feedback by the end of this year. Dassault decided to withdraw from the competition due to concerns over Canada’s requirements for intelligence data sharing and interoperability, particularly with US forces. With the Rafale out of the race, the potential aircraft in the competition now include the F-35, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab’s Gripen and the Boeing Super Hornet. The upcoming fighter jet acquisition is priced at $12.2 billion, with the final bids required by May 2019.
Middle East & Africa
DRS Network & Imaging Systems is being awarded with a Foreign Military Sales contract. The deal is valued at $129 million and supports the armed forces of Egypt, Kuwait, Iraq Morocco and Saudi Arabia. The company will provide the countries with support services for the Direct Support Electrical System Test Set (DSESTS). This includes system technical support services, system sustainment technical support services, and post production software support services; as well as diagnostic services. The DSESTS is used to test and trouble-shoot electrical systems on armoured vehicles such as the M1 Abrams or the Bradley IFV. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order. Performance of the contract is estimated to be completed by November 6, 2023.
Europe
The German newspaper Handelsblatt reports that Egypt is ordering two new frigates from Thyssen-Krupp. The contract is priced at $1.1 billion and covers the delivery of two Meko A-200 frigates. The Meko A combat ships, designed by Blohm and Voss, evolved from the Meko family of ships which have been in operation with navies around the world since the 1980s. The 3.500t A-200 is the largest class in the Meko A family. The A-200 is capable of full 4-dimensional warfare (AAW, ASW and ASuW, BCW). The frigate is designed to perform sustained operations across the full spectrum of general missions and tasks: patrol and interdiction, support of special force operations, SAR, and humanitarian operations.
Asia-Pacific
KAI is being tapped to upgrade Indonesia’s fleet of T-50i aircraft. Jakarta signed the $89.4 million contract with the South Korean defense firm on Thursday. Under the deal, KAI will deliver three KT-1B trainer aircraft and install radar equipment and guns on the Indonesian Air Force’s T-50i aircraft. The T-50 Golden Eagle first flew in 2002 and comes in the T-50A advanced trainer and T-50B lead in fighter trainer versions. The T-50 G has digital fly-by-wire controls and hands on throttle and stick. The aircraft has seven external hardpoints for carrying weapons, one on the centreline under the fuselage, two hardpoints under each wing and an air-to-air missile launch rail at the two wingtips. A General Electric F404-GE-102 turbofan engine accelerates the plane to a maximum speed of 1,837km per hour. The deliveries and upgrades are expected to be completed in the beginning of 2021.
Today’s Video
Watch: US MASSIVE Hybrid Transformer Helicopter/Plane in Action: V-22 Osprey + CH-53 Heavy Lifting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4J6f3HrH1A
