Lockheed Martin Won An LCS Program Contract Modification | Germany Likely To Replace Tornados with Super Hornets | DoS Approves FMS To Ukraine

Americas

United Technologies won a $325.2 million fixed-price-incentive-firm contract to provide material and support equipment for depot maintenance facilities, non-recurring sustainment activities, supplies, services and planning for depot activations as well as two F135 full-scale high fidelity mockup engines and four modules for test cells in support of the F-35 Lightning II Program. The Pratt & Whitney’s F135 is an afterburning turbofan developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, a single-engine strike fighter. Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system powers all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft – the F-35A CTOL (Conventional Takeoff and Landing), F-35B STOVL (Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing) and F-35C CV (Carrier Variant). The F135 has evolved from the proven F119 engine, which exclusively powers the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, and features best-in-class single-engine reliability, fifth generation stealth capabilities as well as advanced prognostics and health management systems. Work under the contract will take place in various places within as well as outside of the US. Estimated completion will be in January 2023.

The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $75.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to exercise options for the accomplishment of class services for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The option exercise is for class services for the LCS program. The company will provide expert design, planning and material support services for LCS-class ship construction. Lockheed Martin is in full-rate production and has delivered eight Freedom-variant ships to the US Navy. There are eight ships in various stages of production and test. This year, Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine will begin construction on two ships, deliver two ships, complete sea trials for two ships and see three ships commissioned. The company will perform work in Virginia, New Jersey, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and estimated completion will be in October 2020.

Middle East & Africa

A new Turkish laser weapon passed its acceptance tests. The Vehicle-Mounted Laser System (ARMOL) designed and developed by the Informatics and Information Security Research Centre (B?LGEM) of Turkey’s Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜB?TAK) has successfully completed all acceptance tests. According to local media, the 400-kilogram (881 lbs) laser system was mounted on a Cobra armored vehicle, along with target acquisition hardware and a control terminal. BILGEM has developed other laser weapon systems, including the 20-kw High Power Laser System (YGLS).

Europe

German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung has reported that the Super Hornet has an advantage over the Eurofighter in the country’s fighter competition to replace the Tornado. According to the newspaper, getting the Eurofighter certified to drop nuclear bombs will take between three and five years longer than the Boeing fighter. From 2025 on, the Bundeswehr will phase out almost 90 Tornados. US certification plays a crucial role in the decision process. Part of the fleet guarantees Germany’s nuclear participation. In case of emergency, these jets should be able to carry the US nuclear bombs to their destination. Whatever aircraft will take on this task in the future has to go through a complex certification process with the US. Germany’s former defense minister Ursula Von der Leyen had asked the US to provide information on the cost and time for the procedure with regard to the various models. The results should now be available to the Ministry and turn out in favor of the American model. The certification of the Eurofighter could take three to five years longer than the Super Hornets.

The State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to the Ukraine for Javelin missiles and related equipment and support for an estimated cost not to exceed $39.2 million. The Government of Ukraine had requested to buy one hundred fifty Javelin missiles and ten Javelin Command Launch Units (CLUs). Also included are training devices, transportation, support equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, US government, engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support tools and test equipment; support equipment; publications and technical documentation; spare and repair parts; equipment training and training devices; US Government and contractor technical, engineering and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical, sustainment, and program support. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky brought up the missiles in the July 25 phone call with President Donald Trump that led Democrats to kick off an impeachment inquiry last week. In a five-page memorandum of the call released last week, Zelensky noted that Ukraine was “almost ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes.”

Asia-Pacific

The new head of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) R.K.S. Bhadauria, has disclosed that four Rafales will be home by May next year. Bhadauria was being interviewed at his first press conference after taking out the post this month. The first four of 36 Rafale jets will come to India by May next year and the aircraft will significantly enhance the IAF’s combat prowess, Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria said on Friday. The first four Rafale jets would “hit the Indian skies by the end of May next” after the training of pilots in France. As the deputy Air Chief, ACM Bhadauria played a key role in the negotiations for 36 Rafale jets.

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