As 2011 begins, the French DGA made France the 4th customer nation to place production orders for MBDA’s ramjet-powered Meteor missile, after Britain, Spain, and Sweden. The 200 missile order was placed through the multinational program lead, Britain’s MoD Defence Equipment & Services (DE&S), to MBDA-UK. Price was not mentioned. The first French Meteor missile deliveries are expected in 2018.
MBDA’s Meteor missile was conceived as a longer-range competitor to popular weapons like the Russian R77/AA-12, and American AIM-120 AMRAAM. Its ramjet propulsion is intended to offer the missile a head-on closing range of 120 km, with a 2-way datalink and full powered performance at Mach 4+ throughout its flight, instead of the standard “burn and coast” approach use by rocket-powered counterparts. The intent is to give the Meteor both longer reach, and a wider “no escape” profile.
Boeing’s Mesa, AZ operations recently won about $95 million in contracts to support the overhaul, repair, and recapitalization of the US Army’s AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and CH-47 Chinook heavy transport helicopter fleets. Note that these contracts extend beyond just the new AH-64D Block III and CH-47F models, to include the full range of types in service. Since Boeing is the manufacturer for both helicopter models, one bid was solicited with one bid received by U.S. Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL.
A $50.1 million firm-fixed-price contract will provide services and supplies to assist the overhaul, repair and recapitalization of the USA’s AH-64D Apache attack helicopter fleet. Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, TX, with an estimated completion date of Oct 31/11 (W58RGZ-10-D-0027).
A $44.9 million firm-fixed-price contract will provide services and supplies to assist the overhaul, repair and recapitalization of the USA’s CH-47 Chinook fleet. Work will be performed in Corpus Christi, TX, with an estimated completion date of Oct 31/11 (W58RGZ-10-D-0027).
