Lockheed Won $7B for F-22 Sustainment | Libya Received Terrier LT-79 Armored Vehicles | China Commissions 42nd and 43rd Type 056/056A Corvettes

Americas

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics won a $7 billion modification for F-22 air vehicle sustainment. The modification provides for the exercise of an option for additional five year ordering period for comprehensive F-22 air vehicle sustainment. The fifth generation fighter, a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force, is designed to project air dominance, quickly and over long distances, and overcome threats that attempt to deny access to the Air Force, Army, Navy and the US Marine Corps UU. The F-22 cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft. The combination of the F-22 Stealth Raptor, supercube capacity, maneuverability and integrated avionics, together with an improved support capacity, represents an exponential leap in the combat capabilities of previous generations of fighters. The Raptor performs air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing the full realization of vital operational concepts for the 21st Century Air Force. The work will be carried out in five operational bases: Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base, Alaska; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Tyndall AFB, Florida; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and in six support locations: Edwards AFB, California; Palmdale, California; Hill AFB, Utah; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Sheppard AFB, Texas; and Warner Robins AFB, Georgia; as well as in other potential locations in the United States and abroad, combat deployment and road support bases, potential locations through deposit association agreements and system program office locations. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2032.

The US State Department approved a $78 million possible sale of equipment, parts, support and services for four P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft previously purchased by Argentina’s government from the United States. Argentina’s government had requested the possible sale to support and maintain its four P-3C aircraft, which it purchased from the US earlier this year. The request also included four turboprop engines for each airframe and four additional engines. The sale approved Wednesday will include communications, radar and optics equipment, as well as aircraft depot maintenance, spare parts and technical and logistical assistance.

Middle East & Africa

Advanced Electronics won a $13.7 million contract modification for the Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA Cyber Protection System and related facilities program. The modification provides for Build 2 of the Cyber Protection System. The scope of the deal effort will include the deployment of a Cyber Security Operations Center at Prince Sultan Air Base, the establishment of End Point Security (data-at-rest encryption using MS BitLocker), and additional System Integration Lab Instances. FMS case SR-D-SAO is for the total package of acquisition and fielding of 84 F-15A aircraft; the upgrade of 70 F-15SA aircraft to the F-154SA configuration; the procurement of associated equipment, weapons, and spares; and the construction, refurbishment and infrastructure improvements of support facilities for the F-15SA in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first of 152 Boeing F-15SA (Saudi Advanced) Eagle fighters arrived in the Kingdom on December 13, 2016. The F-15SA is equipped 11 wing weapon stations, two more than the F-15S, extending its 13 tonne weapon payload capability. Upgraded avionics include a digital glass cockpit, fly-by-wire controls, a BAE Systems Digital Electronic Warfare System (DEWS), Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, a Raytheon APG-63(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System and AN/AAS-42 Infrared Search and Track Systems. Work under the Foreign Military Sale will take place at Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force Facilities in Saudi Arabia. Estimated completion will be on December 31, 2020.

The 106th Brigade of the Libyan National Army received Terrier LT-79 armored vehicles made by The Armored Group. In March 2018, The Armored Group (TAG), a leading worldwide provider of armored vehicles, introduced its newest law enforcement vehicle, the Terrier LT-79. It uses a reinforced and militarized Toyota VDJ79 chassis. The Terrier LT-79 comes standard in a three-door configuration which offers a 2+6 seating arrangement. Additionally variants are available in 5-door configurations as well as light surveillance, remote firing post (with RWS capability) and aircraft assault platforms which can be customized for any operational requirements. Due to it’s highly customizable nature, the Terrier is popular with law enforcement, paramilitary, NGO and military clientele and can support a wide array of uses in many other industries. The company, which also armors civilian cars and makes cash-in-transit vehicles, says it has manufacturing facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, as well as the United States and Germany.

Europe

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $43.7 million contract action for France contractor logistics support MQ-9 Block 5 and Block 1 aircraft.  This contract provides logistics support activities including depot repair, life cycle sustainment and software maintenance services for the French Air Force MQ-9 Block 5 and Block 1 aircraft.  The French Reaper gained its first weapons capability recently during a firing campaign from Niamey airbase in Niger on December 15 to 17. Four evaluation drops were conducted from Niamey as part of the ‘Barkhane’ operation. In 2014, France’s first MQ-9 flight took off from Niger. The first two Reapers to enter French service are designated Block 1 and use US equipment; further orders are to be modified with European payloads such as sensors and datalinks. Work will take place in Poway, California and expected completion will be on December 31, 2020.

Asia-Pacific

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) recently commissioned the 42nd and 43rd Type 056/056A Jiangdao Class corvettes into service. The two ships have reportedly been named Bazhong and Shuozhou. China’s Ministry of National Defense has not officially acknowledged the commissioning of the latest Type 056A surface combatants.The 41st Type 056/056A corvette, Nanchong, was commissioned at a naval port in Guangdong province in Southern China in the beginning of June. The commissioning of the ship Shandong puts China in a small club of nations with multiple aircraft carriers and the country is reportedly building a third.

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