Lockheed To Produce APY-9 For Hawkeye | France To Develop Anti-Satellite Laser Weapons | DoS Approves Pakistan F-16 Program Support

Americas

Lockheed Martin announced that it has received a contract from Northrop Grumman to produce 24 additional APY-9 radars for the US Navy’s E-2D aircraft program. It’s also known as the Advanced Hawkeye program. The deal is valued at $600 million. The APY-9 radar program is close to completion of a current five-year production contract in 2020, and this new award calls for another five years of production with deliveries spanning from 2021 to 2025. The latest radar order will include Lockheed Martin’s new Advanced Radar Processor. The deal follows a contract award in April for 24 more E-2D aircraft for the Navy. The ultra high frequency surveillance radar is designed to “see smaller targets” at greater range Lockheed says, especially in both coastal regions and over land. The newly ordered radar systems also will include the new Advanced Radar Processor.

AAR Government Services won a $118.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for two C-40 aircraft. The deal is for the procurement, modification as well as delivery and includes associated peculiar support equipment and common support equipment for the Marine Corps. The C-40 is the military version of the Boeing 737-700C transporter. The C-40A or Clipper provides critical logistics support to the United States Navy. The contract is for the acquisition, modification, acceptance and delivery of two Boeing 737-700 Increased Gross Weight series commercial aircraft that will meet USMC C-9B replacement medium lift requirements and will be designated C-40A. Under the contract, a passenger-cargo configuration shall be certified to meet 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 25 or military airworthiness standards that will consist of seating and cargo pallets that will provide the USMC with the added mission flexibility to configure the aircraft in a cargo-passenger configuration. AAR will perform work in Illinois, Indiana, Florida, and Oklahoma and estimated completion date is in September 2021.

Middle East & Africa

Jane’s reports that the United Arab Emirates will replace one of its Apache attack helicopters. The defense sales is part of the Iran-related emergency invoked by the Trump administration on May 24 to ensure that 22 sales to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan did not require Congressional approval by Congress. The government cited the need to deter what it called “the malign influence” of Iran throughout the Middle East as justification for the emergency arms sale. A notification released by the US Federal Register on 24 July covers a single new AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter for the UAE. This notification was an amendment to one released in December 2016 covering the remanufacturing of 28 of the UAE’s Apache attack helicopters to the AH-64E standard and nine new AH-16Es.

Europe

According to local reports, France wants to develop laser weapons capable of destroying satellites in space. French Defence Minister Florence Parly unveiled the plans as she launched a new space defense strategy at a French Air Base near Lyon on Thursday. France has ambitions to close the gap on rivals, who are developing new arms and surveillance capabilities in space. The United States, Russia and China have been heavily investing in technology for space, which they see as a new military frontier. The ability to detect and potentially destroy or cripple spy satellites is seen as a key capability. Around 2,000 active satellites are currently estimated to be orbiting the Earth, mostly to relay commercial and military communications, but also to track the weather and for spying. Parly’s announcement comes after President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this month that France would create a new military “space force”, following in the steps of his US counterpart Donald Trump, who made a similar pledge in March.

Asia-Pacific

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan for continued support of the F-16 program. The FMS is valued at $125 million. The Government of Pakistan had requested a continuation of technical support services, US Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support to assist in the oversight of operations in support of the Pakistan Peace Drive advanced F-16 program. Pakistan has used the F-16 fighter jets against India, the latest being in the aftermath of the Balakot airstrike inside Pakistan by India. The program raised the total number of F-16s ordered by Pakistan to 54. The Pakistan Air Force received its first F-16, in the block 15 F-16A/B configuration, in 1982.

The US approved an FMS worth $670 million to support India’s C-17 military transport aircraft. The decision in this regard comes after a recent Indian request to buy equipment for C-17 follow-on support, to include spares and repair parts, support equipment, and personnel training and training equipment among others. The C-17 Globemaster III is a high-wing, 4-engine, T-tailed military-transport aircraft, the multi-service C-17 can carry large equipment, supplies and troops directly to small airfields in harsh terrain anywhere in the world day or night.

Today’s Video

Watch: CHINOOK FOR PHILIPPINES

C-40 Clippers Hitting Their Stride, Despite Past Controversy

The 737 based C-40 Clipper represents a substantial upgrade over the 1970s-era, DC-9 based C-9 Skytrains and 727-based C-22Bs that have performed its transport roles to date. The C-9s are still in service with the US Naval Reserve and USAF, but they’re expected to be be phased out as the C-40s take up the load. Meanwhile, concern has been expressed about the funding levels for this replacement program, as well as the USAF and US Navy C-9 fleet’s continued durability. The USAF’s C-9A models are of particular concern.

The C-40 comes in 3 variants; the C-40A is a Navy aircraft, while its counterpart C-40C and executive/ VIP C-40Bs are USAF planes. The USAF’s C-40 leasing contracts have been a source of some controversy, but the program has continued, alongside Air Force and Navy buys.