Lockheed Contracted For Weapons Systems Changes on FFG(X) | Rheinmetall To Upgrade Germany’s Pumas | India’s Nag ATGM Ready For Series Production

Americas

Northrop Grumman Systems won two deals in support of the MQ-4C Triton drone. One delivery order worth $33.8 million procures material kits and retrofit labor to incorporate the Integrated Functional Capability 4.0 configuration into retrofit aircraft and ground segments. Work is expected to be completed in January 2022. Under the second contract, Northrop Grumman is awarded $14,1 million for modification that incorporates integrated functional capability 4.0 into low-rate initial production Lot 2 Aircraft B12. Work is expected to be completed in November 2021. The MQ-4C Triton is an autonomously operated system that provides a persistent maritime ISR capability using multiple maritime sensors. The MQ-4C Triton air vehicle is based upon the United States Air Force RQ-4B Global Hawk.

The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission System a $15.7 million contract modification for the AEGIS Weapons System design requirements in support of the Guided Missile Frigate FFG(X). The deal includes the design of the Combat Management System. The planned contract action will modify CMS capabilities under development and integrate increased combat system element capability, resulting in an AEGIS Weapon System that aligns with FFG(X) Class ships. The FFG(X) Class ships are multimission guided-missile frigates. They are to be contracted from 2020 and will be a follow-on to the Littoral Combat Ships. At the beginning of July, Lockheed won a $7 million contract that includes combat system ship integration engineering support and test planning, conducting a waterfront CS ship integration and test program, post-delivery engineering support to government test teams, engineering services for CS ship integration and test and developing test program documents for FFG(X) ships. Work for the contract modification will take place in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is scheduled to be finished by September 2021.

Middle East & Africa

The British Army will contribute a 250-strong long-range reconnaissance task group to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) from 2020. “Based in Gao, 250 personnel will deploy in response to a UN requirement and will address a key capability gap“, the Ministry of Defense said in a press release. The release also noted that the deployment aims to prevent “conflict spilling over to neighboring states.” The stabilization mission in Mali, which began in 2013, is considered one of the most dangerous UN peacekeeping missions, and attacks against blue helmets in the center and north of the country are common. More than 200 people deployed to MINUSMA have died, including 18 this year.

Europe

Germany’s defense procurement office awarded a contract to the ARGE Puma consortium for the System Panzergrenadier Very High Joint Readiness Task Force 2023 (VJTF 2023) project, Rheinmetall announced. The company will furnish the German Bundeswehr with 41 upgraded Puma infantry fighting vehicles along with additional measures for improving communication between the infantry fighting vehicles and dismounted infantrymen. Included in the “System Panzergrenadier VJTF 2023” package is a comprehensive combat performance upgrade of forty-one Puma infantry fighting vehicles, coupled with additional measures for improving communication between the infantry fighting vehicles and dismounted infantrymen. The order is valued at $288.1 million.

Asia-Pacific

Fighter jets from the Republic of Korea Air Force reportedly fired warning shots at a Russian military aircraft after the latter entered South Korean airspace at 9:09 am local time. Based on a release by Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the Russian aircraft that was subjected to warning shots from South Korean fighter aircraft was an A-50. South Korean F-15K fighter jets sent warnings, dropped 10 flares, and fired 80 warning shots into the air close to the Russian aircraft. The Russian warplane left the area at 09:12 am and exited the KADIZ at 9:15 am. The A-50, however, again entered South Korean airspace at 9:33 am for the second time, prompting Korean fighter jets to fire 280 warning shots and 10 flares. The warplane left the area at 9:37 am and flew toward the Northern Limit Line, exiting the KADIZ at 9:56 am. The Russian aircraft is assumed to have been participating in a joint military exercise with China, as two other Russian warplanes were also found entering into the KADIZ along with two Chinese bombers.

NAG, Indian state-owned Defense Research and Development Organisation’s indigenously developed 3rd Generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) has successfully undergone a series of summer trials at Pokhran Field Firing Ranges carried out by the Indian Army in July. According to officials associated with the project, the missile was test-fired around 12 times during the 11-day period and the mission was completed on Thursday. Jane’s reports that now the Nag missile system is ready for series production. The ATGM has been developed to engage highly fortified enemy tanks in all weather conditions with day-and-night capabilities and with a minimum range of 500 meters and a maximum range of four kilometers.

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