Raytheon nets Deal for Silent Knight Radar Production | Czech Republic to Upgrade T-72M MBTs | German Eurofighters Collide and Crash

Americas

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems won a $96.6 million contract modification for the initial production of the Silent Knight Radar system for the US Special Operations Command. The Silent Knight Radar is a terrain following, terrain avoidance system designed to increase the situational awareness of aircraft and helicopters in low visibility conditions. Silent Knight is claimed to be 30 percent lighter than previous airborne systems and to require less power, which means a lower probability of detection/interception. The system includes a range of new applications, including navigation support systems and threat detection and identification. The radar also features ground mapping and weather detection capabilities. The contract modification increases the ceiling to $300 million for continued low-rate initial production of the radar system for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. Raytheon will perform work in McKinney and Forest, Mississippi, and is scheduled to be complete by October 2022.

Leidos won a $72.8 million contract to help the US Navy build a wide area surveillance technology to support antisubmarine warfare missions. The company will specifically develop the Transformational Reliable Acoustic Path System (TRAPS) for the Navy’s Maritime Surveillance Systems Program Office. The TRAPS capability complements fixed surveillance systems and the surveillance towed array sensor system. It provides flexible and responsive wide area surveillance for theater antisubmarine warfare commanders worldwide. Work will take place in Long Beach, Mississippi, and is scheduled to be finished by June 2022.

The Navy tapped Lockheed Martin to build elements of the Virginia Class submarines. The firm-fixed-price, cost contract is valued at $16.3 million and has the company build multifunction modular masts for the submarines’ Block V hull, which can be extended by sections, depending on the requirements of the vessels’ strike capabilities. The Virginia Class of nuclear powered fast attack submarines is the US Navy’s latest undersea warfare platform. Block V subs incorporate the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), an added section of the ship, which will extend the hull by 84 feet and boost its strike capabilities. Virginia Class submarines with Block V armaments are capable of carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles. The VPM will increase the number of torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles the Virginia class can carry. 70 percent of the work will take place in Nashua, new Hampshire, and 30 percent in Syracuse, New York. Scheduled completion date is in June next year.

Middle East & Africa

The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center awarded Northrop Grumman a $17.8 million contract for sustainment services in support of the Lebanese Air Force Armed Caravan Program. The Cessna 208 Caravan is an American single-engined turboprop, fixed-tricycle landing gear, short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft. The airplane is able to seat between and fourteen passengers. The aircraft is also used for cargo operations. The Lebanese Air Force currently holds three Cessna AC 208 for reconnaissance and ground attack roles. The deal provides field service representatives, repair and return, calibration, support equipment and spares. Work will take place in Beirut, Lebanon. Scheduled completion date is June 30, 2021.

Europe

Jane’s reports that the Czech Republic is planning to procure two C295 transport aircraft, and upgrade 33 T-72M Main Battle Tanks as well as a flight planning system. The Czech Defense Minister submitted three contracts with a combined value of $176.6 million. Airbus reportedly offered the Czech Republic the two C295s for 2020-21, with the possibility of deferring payment until 2022-23, the original delivery dates. The T-72M4CZ MBTs were produced in the Czech Republic in 2003-2006 under a Russian license. The tank`s outdated components, including fire-control systems and control units, will be replaced. Work will be conducted at the state-owned company VOP CZ’s plant through 2023.

Two German Eurofighter Typhoons collided and subsequently crashed in the northeast of Germany, reportedly killing one of the pilots. According to the German Air Force, the aircraft were taking part in an air combat exercise when they collided and crashed near Laage Air Base. The German newspaper „Die Welt“ called the incident „the worst crash in the history of the Eurofighter“. It is yet unknown, what caused the collision. The accident comes in the midst of the Luftwaffe’s plans to procure more Eurofighters. The old models of the German Eurofighters are to be replaced by modernized variants. The cost for one Eurofighter is roughly valued at $148 million.

Asia-Pacific

FlexDecks Inc. won a $17.2 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for up to 40 V-22 and 40 MV-22B maintenance wing platform stands in support of the Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy as well as the government of Japan. The first Japanese V-22 Osprey multi-mission tilt-rotor aircraft Block C type rolled out on August 24, 2017 at the Bell facility in Amarillo, Texas. In January 2015, Japan’s parliament had approved a defense budget with funding for five V-22s. In September 2018, the Japanese Ministry of Defense decided to ya href=https://www.janes.com/article/83299/tokyo-to-delay-deployment-of-osprey-tiltrotors-amid-local-opposition>delay the deployment of the first five MV-22B aircraft it had received due to local opposition.

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