Lockheed Martin Tapped For F-35 Special Tooling | Serbian President Inspects New Helicopters | KAI To Update Link 16 Datalink For RoKAF’s FA-50

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $153.4 million contract modification, which procures special tooling and special test equipment required to meet current and future F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial production as well as full-rate production rates. The modification uses aircraft funds from fiscal 2018, 2019 and 2020 and combines purchasing funds of $55.8 million from the Air Force, $51.9 million from the Navy and $22.2 million from the Marine Corps, as well as $17.6 million from non-US Department of Defense partners and $5.8 million from Foreign Military Sales funds. The F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. It has three main models: the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A (CTOL), the short takeoff and vertical-landing F-35B (STOVL), and the catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery, carrier-based F-35C (CATOBAR). Work on the contract will take place at a variety of locations inside and outside the United States, with the bulk of the work taking place in Rome, Italy, and Redondo Beach, California. Estimated completion will be in December 2023.

Lockheed Martin Rotary Mission Systems won a $21.4 million deal for the procurement of long-lead-time material for two Virginia Block V hulls, one Virginia installation and checkout kit, one pre-production unit and associated hardware assets to support environmental qualification testing. This effort will award the procurement of Navy equipment. On December 2, the US Navy tapped General Dynamics Electric Boat to be the lead contractor for the newest iteration of the Virginia Class Attack submarine. Block V is destined to be a multimission submarine, with a strike capability and the ability to delivery large-diameter unmanned underwater vehicles in addition to the more traditional surveillance mission. Lockheed Martin will perform work in Syracuse, New York. Estimated completion date is in December 2020.

Middle East & Africa

The US Army awarded General Dynamics Land Systems a $21.5 million Foreign Military Sales to Kuwait. The FMS is for contractor logistics services, maintenance training and technical assistance. One bid was solicited via the internet with one bid received. Performance location is Kuwait City, Kuwait. Expected completion will be on December 5, 2023.

BlueForce Inc. won a $15.7 million contract modification for continued support for the Royal Saudi Air Force English language training outside the continental US program. The deal involves 100 per cent FMS To the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Work will take place at King Abdul Aziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Estimated completion date is January 3, 2024.

Europe

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic went to Colonel-pilot Milenko Pavlovi? Air Base to inspect the new Mi-35M, Mi-17 and H-145M helicopters that the country acquired recently, local media reports. The president highlighted the multi-functionality of the technologically advanced European and Russian helicopters and their strength in deterrence. “We’ve never had a modern helicopter squadron before… We have implemented difficult reforms and managed to ensure that our military has sufficient strength. These are the keepers of our country and our sky and we are happy and proud to have them in our country,” Vucic said.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to update the Link 16 tactical datalink system for the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (RoKAF’s) fleet of FA-50 light attack aircraft, according to Jane’s. The FA-50 Link 16 Performance Improvement Project aims to enhance security in the encryption system and harden it against interference. DAPA has also plans to sign contracts in the first half of 2020 for similar updates to be performed on nine other platform types, including E-737 airborne early warning and control aircraft, F-15K fighters and KDX-III Aegis-equipped destroyers.

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KF-X Fighter: Korea’s Future Homegrown Jet

South Korea has been thinking seriously about designing its own fighter jet since 2008. The ROK defense sector has made impressive progress, and has become a notable exporter of aerospace, land, and naval equipment. The idea of a plane that helps advance their aerospace industry, while making it easy to add new Korean-designed weapons, is very appealing. On the flip side, a new jet fighter is a massive endeavor at the best of times, and wildly unrealistic technical expectations didn’t help the project. KF-X has progressed in fits and starts, and became a multinational program when Indonesia joined in June 2010. As of March 2013, however, South Korea has decided to put the KF-X program on hold for 18 months, while the government and Parliament decide whether it’s worth continuing.

Indonesia has reportedly contributed IDR 1.6 trillion since they joined in July 2010 – but that’s just $165 million of the DAPA’s estimated WON 6 billion (about $5.5 billion) development cost, and there’s good reason to believe that even this development budget is too low. This article discusses the KFX/IFX fighter’s proposed designs and features, and chronicles the project’s progress and setbacks since 2008…