Kubernetes, an open-source container-orchestration system for automating application deployment, scaling, and management, was successfully installed on the F-16 fighter within 45 days by the US Air Force. It is part of an initiative by the Pentagon to improve its software development capabilities. The DoD Enterprise DevSecOps Initiative specified a combination of Kubernetes, Istio, knative and an internally developed specification for “hardening” containers with a strict set of security requirements as the default software development platform across the military. More than 2 million people work for the military, and most of them are not flying F-16s running Kubernetes.
Engineers have mitigated an ongoing engine integration issue for the CH-53K King Stallion, the new heavy-lift helicopter from Sikorsky for the United States Marine Corps. It took 8 months of study and testing. The helicopter is designed to conduct expeditionary heavy-lift transport of armored vehicles, equipment and personnel to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of operations. The CH-53K is powered by three General Electric T-408 engines, but these engines created several integration issues in the aircraft, including exhaust gas re-ingestion (EGR). The King Stallion is an all-new heavy-lift helicopter that will expand the fleet’s ability to move more material more rapidly.
Middle East & Africa
Israel’s Defense Ministry announced on January 8 that it had achieved a breakthrough in laser weapon technology program which will become operational within a year and a half. The new laser-based system is built to intercept rocket, mortar, and artillery threats, drones, and anti-tank guided missiles. It will undergo testing in the coming months. The new technology was unveiled by the head of the Defense Ministry’s weapons development administration, Brig. Gen. Yaniv Rotem. The laser-based interception, which is silent and invisible, is based on electric laser technology rather than the chemically based lasers used up to now. The cost is less than $3.50 per interception, in contrast with Iron Dome, which costs about $49,000 per interception and makes noise on launch.
Germany will withdraw some of its troops deployed as part of the anti-Islamic State coalition in Iraq, the German defense ministry said on Tuesday. This is the latest fallout over the US drone strike that killed a top Iranian general. About 30 soldiers stationed in Baghdad and Taji will be moved to Jordan and Kuwait, a German defense ministry spokesman told AFP, adding that the withdrawal will begin shortly. Germany has deployed about 415 soldiers as part of the coalition, with about 120 of its troops stationed in Iraq. Germany’s move came after the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution asking the government to end its agreement with the US-led coalition.
Europe
The Falkland Islands have welcomed the arrival of new patrol vessel HMS Forth. British Forces South Atlantic Islands say that the ship has taken over the mission from HMS Clyde, which has offered protection to the Falklands and nearby South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands for the past 12 years. The long-term deployment of HMS Forth will see the ship act as the guardian and patrol vessel for the Falkland Islands and Britain’s South Atlantic territories. HMS Forth is a Batch 2 River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel and is fundamentally different in appearance and capabilities from the preceding Batch 1. Notable differences include the longer 90.5 meters long hull, a higher top speed of 24 knots, a Merlin-capable flight deck, a greater displacement of around 2,000 tonnes and greatly expanded capacity for accommodating personnel.
Asia-Pacific
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has issued an invitation to tender for the procurement of a laser-based weapon pod, the Global Times reports. The official website of the People’s Liberation Army, weain.mil.cn, published a notice called “tender announcement for a laser strike pod procurement project”. It indicates that further information about the planned acquisition is confidential. Although the detailed requirements for such equipment are unknown, it is likely to be a new type of tactical assault weapon, rather than laser guidance devices for missiles, which are already widely in use. The notice titles supported this idea, said Global Times.
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Watch: USMC Stinger Machine Gun: Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima
Latest updates[?]: The Falkland Islands have welcomed the arrival of new patrol vessel HMS Forth. British Forces South Atlantic Islands say that the ship has taken over the mission from HMS Clyde, which has offered protection to the Falklands and nearby South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands for the past 12 years. The long-term deployment of HMS Forth will see the ship act as the guardian and patrol vessel for the Falkland Islands and Britain’s South Atlantic territories. HMS Forth is a Batch 2 River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel and is fundamentally different in appearance and capabilities from the preceding Batch 1. Notable differences include the longer 90.5 meters long hull, a higher top speed of 24 knots, a Merlin-capable flight deck, a greater displacement of around 2,000 tonnes and greatly expanded capacity for accommodating personnel.
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River Class
The UK’s forthcoming Ocean Class 90m+ Offshore Patrol Vessels stem from a shipbuilding sector agreement that the UK MoD signed with BAE in November 2013. Britain needed to find an affordable bridge-buy that kept its naval shipyards running in-between completion of existing ships, and delayed construction of the new Type 26 frigates. Rather than paying termination and industrial costs to keep the shipyard idle, the UK government decided to buy 3 OPVs, for delivery by 2017. This would also allow the Royal Navy to retire or gift out the existing River Class OPVs HMS Tyne, HMS Severn and HMS Mersey.
As of August 2014, the contract for these new open-ocean patrol vessels is complete…
January 9/20: CBO Estimate According to an estimate by the US Congressional Budget Office, it will cost $11 billion per year to maintain the aviation fleet of the Navy and Marine Corps at is current size for the next 30 years. A report published by the CBO estimates what it would cost to keep the Navy and Marines’ fleet at its current size of 4,000 between 2020 and 2050. The office’s projections are based on procurement schedules and costs extrapolated from Department of Defense documents, the report said, as well as the retirement ages and costs for the aircraft being replaced. Costs would range from from $7 billion to $17 billion and total $280 billion, the report said. The costs would vary year to year as specific aircraft programs are phased out and added, the report said. CBO predicts a temporary drop after 2030 as several large programs wind down or end, and rebound in the mid-2030s as the Pentagon begins a new production cycle to replace them. The MV-22B tiltrotor, the CH-53K helicopter and the F-35B/C fighters are all scheduled to sunset in the 2030s.
Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense won a $28.3 million contract with a five-year ordering period and five one-year options for the MK 150 MOD 0 4.0 second Delay Detonator, and the MK 164 MOD 0 Non Electric Dual Detonator. The MN50 is a 4.0 second delay detonator with 7′ of pyrotechnic lead with one non-electric delay detonator on one end and an inline initiator on the other end. The MP29 is a non-electric dual detonator with 40′ of dual, no flash pyrotechnic lead with two non-electric detonators on one end and two inline initiators on the other end. They are used for demolition breaching, critical target destruction and obstacle clearing for U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company manufactures precision energetics systems. The Company’s products include explosive breaches, demolition systems, reactive armor, and accessories for military applications in the United States. The company will perform work under the contract in Graham, Kentucky. Estimated completion will be by January 2030.
Middle East & Africa
Iran launched missile strikes late Tuesday against two Iraqi military bases that house US Forces in retaliation for the airstrike that killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani last week. More than a dozen ballistic missiles targeted the Al Asad and Erbil bases, the Pentagon has said. Iran’s supreme leader called his country’s missile strike a “slap” to the Americans, but said Iran’s real revenge will be forcing the US to pull out of the region. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Iran does “not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression.” Addressing the nation for the first time after Iran’s missile attack on UStroops in Iraq, President Trump said he would not allow the Iranian regime to obtain nuclear weapons and indicated he was willing to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East. “As long as I am president of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” Mr. Trump said.
Europe
German company Rheinmetall announced in a press release that it has been awarded orders for additional equipment for the Bundeswehr’s Puma infantry fighting vehicle. Its Düsseldorf-based technology group is to supply spare parts and special tools worth a total of about $60 million. The Puma is one of the most protected IFV currently available. It has a welded armor hull with add-on modular armor. It has an option of three various protection levels to suit operational needs. Weight of the vehicle vary from 29.4 to 43 tons accordingly to a protection level. The base model has a front and flank protection against 30 mm rounds, while vehicle has an all-round protection against 14.5 mm machine gun fire.
Asia-Pacific
The Indonesian Air Force has deployed four F-16s to Natuna under Operasi Lintang Elang 20. Roesmin Nurjadin Airbase Commander, First Marshall Ronny Irianto Moningka told reporters on January 7 that this is a routine deployment and that there is no intention to provoke any party, especially China, which has sent its coast guard vessels and fishing boats to waters off Natuna. The American made aircraft, that has become the centerpiece in the Indonesian Air Force, will patrol Indonesia’s sovereign territory in the operation dubbed as ‘Operasi Lintang Elang 20.’ Also the Jakarta Post reported that Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited Natuna Regency, an archipelago of hundreds of islands in the southern South China Sea on Wednesday. Indonesia and China are in a dispute over Beijing’s naval activities in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone, or EEZ. Widodo, who was re-elected in 2019, made the trip to the Natuna islands Wednesday morning, meeting with the area’s governor and Indonesia’s Joint Defense Area Command commander Rear Adm. Yudo Margono, according to the report.
Bangladesh is to receive the last of five UK-surplus Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport aircraft in the coming weeks, according to Jane’s. Bangladesh had ordered the surplus C-130Js in two batches of two and three aircraft in 2018 and earlier in 2019, respectively. The first of the five aircraft was rolled out by Marshall ADG during an official ceremony in mid-July 2019. The Bangladesh Air Force has previously noted that the acquisition of C-130J aircraft from the RAF provides a key enhancement to its current airlift capability. As well as performing in-country support of the aircraft, Marshall ADG will also be modifying the aircraft, including designing, developing, and installing medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) capability to enable the Bangladesh Air Force to carry out tasks within the country and overseas in support of UN missions.
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Watch: The A 10 thunderbolt, Also known as the warthog, The ‘flying gun’ and the tankbuster, in action
Ace Electronics Defense Systems won a $64.4 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price delivery orders for the production and delivery of manufacturing kits, spare parts and first article testing for the hardware component refresh of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (AN/SWG-5(V)6). The AN/SWG-5(V)6 upgrade offers new offensive capabilities to upgraded ships in support of the Maritime Strike Tomahawk, addresses obsolescence risks and improves the operability and maintainability of the system hardware. ATWCS is an evolutionary upgrade to the current Tomahawk Weapon Control System. ATWCS replaces 1970s’ technology with COTS/GOTS hardware and software, thereby reducing overall reaction time and operator workload, enhancing the training capabilities at all levels, and improving Tomahawk strike effectiveness. ATWCS incorporates an open-system architecture to provide for future growth, eliminates stand-alone Tomahawk desktop computers, and enhances command-and-control interoperability. The single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a five-year ordering period, which, if all line item quantities are ordered, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $64,405,123, with an ordering period to January 2025. Work will take place in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and is expected to be complete by January 2025.
Edwards Air Force Base announced in a press release, which covers the achievements made by the F-35 Integrated Test Force in 2019, that the test team had tested the multi-ship Infrared Search and Track capability. Having a multi-ship capability could allow 2 or more F-35s to generate a weapons quality track of low observable aircraft. Over the past year the Test Force has tested 11 unique F-35 software suites and fielded two. Through those efforts, the service has laid the foundation for increased F-35 lethality and survivability with functions like multi-ship Infrared Search and Track.
Middle East & Africa
A secretive spy plane that belongs to the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) was destroyed by terrorists during an attack on a military base in Kenya on January 5, the BBC reports. The attack on Manda Bay Airfield also killed one American military service member and two contractors. Four al-Shabaab militants were also killed. The US military said in a statement that two others from the Department of Defense were wounded. “The wounded Americans are currently in stable condition and being evacuated,” the BBC quotes US military’s Africa Command. The Associated Press news agency reported that two aircraft, two US helicopters and multiple vehicles were destroyed at the airstrip.
The Egyptian military released footage of Ka-52 Alligator Attack Helicopters operating from one of its Mistral landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships for the first time on January 4. Two Ka-52s were seen taking off and landing on the deck of Gamal Abdel Nasser, which also carried two AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and a Chinook transport helicopter. Unlike the Apaches, which were fitted with rocket pods, the Ka-52s were not seen carrying anything on their hardpoints, although they have a fixed 30 mm gun on their starboard side.
Europe
Leonardo announced the first flight trials of its Osprey 50 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar in a press release. The flight trials were carried out in support of production for a Strategic ISR platform and Collins Aerospace’s Tactical Synthetic Aperture Radar (TacSAR) reconnaissance system. “Osprey is a multi-mode radar family based on solid-state AESA technology and remains the only system of its type currently available which delivers full spherical coverage with no moving parts“, it says in the release. Leonardo has also re-used technology developed for the Osprey family to refresh its Seaspray family of AESA surveillance radars. Hardware and signal processing techniques developed for Osprey have been introduced back into Seaspray to increase capability and reduce system weight. say the firm.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea has moved a Patriot anti-missile battery to the center of Seoul in a bid to beef up its defense against the growing threat from the North, local news reported on Tuesday. The move came as the North has threatened to unveil a new strategic weapon “in the near future” as tensions rise over stalled nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington. The Patriot battery was believed to be equipped with PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles designed to intercept incoming aircraft and missiles at altitudes of around 12-25 miles. The Patriot missile defense system is part of the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, one of the three defense systems operated by the South to counter growing nuclear and missile threats from the North. The other two are the Kill Chain preemptive strike, and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) plan.
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Watch: Can Iran Stop the US? A look at Irans Defenses
Bushido Associates won a $7.5 million deal for cyber threat analysis and reporting from the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF). This contract is for forensic analysis reports and recommendations provided by embedded cyber threat forensic and cyber threat intelligence analysts in the NCIJTF. The NCIJTF is a unique multi-agency cyber center, which has the primary responsibility to coordinate, integrate, and share information to support cyber threat investigations, supply and support intelligence analysis for community decision-makers, and provide value to other ongoing efforts in the fight against the cyber threat to the nation. The NCIJTF also synchronizes joint efforts that focus on identifying, pursuing, and defeating the actual terrorists, spies, and criminals who seek to exploit our nation’s systems. To accomplish this, the task force leverages the collective authorities and capabilities of its members and collaborates with international and private sector partners to bring all available resources to bear against domestic cyber threats and their perpetrators. Work will take place at Chantilly, Virginia. Expected completion date is November 20, 2025.
The US government has placed restrictions on software companies on the export of artificial intelligence software used for analyzing satellite imagery, the Washington Post reports. Software that can automatically detect objects such as houses or vehicles are required to have a license starting from January 6 if they are to be sold overseas. The Commerce Department said this could give the US a significant military or intelligence advantage. A special license would be required to sell software outside the US that can automatically scan aerial images to identify objects of interest, such as vehicles or houses. The new export rules are the result of Congress passing a law in 2018 that updated national security-related export controls to protect “emerging and foundational” technology that could end up in the hands of foreign governments.
Middle East & Africa
According to Reuters, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeated his plans to deploy the Self-Defense Forces to the Middle East to ensure the safety of its ships, even as tensions in the region erupt in the wake of the United States’ killing of one of Iran’s top military commanders. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose country has a military alliance with the US and good ties with Iran, told a news conference Monday that Tokyo was deeply concerned about rising tensions. The comments were Abe’s first since the attack, and came hours after Iran said it would abandon limits on uranium enrichment, leaving a landmark 2015 nuclear deal dead in all but name. Trump has doubled down on threats to Iran, saying Sunday that cultural sites are among 52 targets he plans to hit if Iran retaliates for Qassem Soleimani’s death. A US strike killed Soleimani on January 3 at Baghdad International Airport, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. At least six people were killed in the strike. The attack was fired from the MQ-9 Reaper drone of the US Air Force.
Bulgarian Military reports that British military intelligence aircraft Global Express Sentinel R.1 was spotted in the area of the Russian military bases in Syria. according to the news platform this indicates that London decided to try to get closer to the Russian S-400 Triumph air defense systems. The British Global Express Sentinel R.1 electronic intelligence aircraft carried out a long reconnaissance mission along the entire coast of Syria, as well as Lebanon. The Sentinel R.Mk 1 provides long-range, wide-area battlefield surveillance, delivering critical intelligence and target tracking information to British and coalition forces. The aircraft has been operationally deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali, and is currently deployed in support of British and Coalition operations in Iraq and Syria.
Europe
Following a competitive evaluation, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support selected the MBDA Enforcer weapon system to meet the German Armed Forces’ ‘Leichtes Wirkmittel 1800+’ requirement, which is a lightweight disposable day/night precision-guided shoulder-launched weapon system with an effective range of more than 1,800 m. The other contender for this requirement was reportedly Eurospike, a joint venture between Diehl Defence GmbH, Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which was competing the 170 mm Spike SR weapon system. Launched in October 2018, Leichtes Wirkmittel 1800+ provides for the eventual acquisition of some 3,100 munitions for the Bundeswehr Special Forces Command. With a lock-on before launch capability, the fire-and-forget Enforcer missile provides precision capabilities against lightly armored static and moving targets, targets behind cover and in urban environments at up to 2,000 m. It can be operated from cover and in enclosed and confined spaces.
Asia-Pacific
Three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters are being transported to Australia to help fight local bushfires. The helicopters will start their journey to Royal Australian Air Force Base Edinburgh from today and are expected to remain there till end of January. The NH90 helicopters will have 55 aircrew and support personnel from RNZAF Base Ohakea. They comprise of aircrew, and staff for maintenance, logistics, communications, medical needs, refueling, security, and analysts. The NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter. It has the distinction of being the first production helicopter to feature entirely fly-by-wire flight controls.
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Watch: U.S. Army Soldiers Deploy To Middle East Hotspot (JAN 2020)
DynCorp won a $21.9 million contract modification, which exercises an extension for organization, selected intermediate, limited depot level maintenance and logistics services in support of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center’s (NAWDC) F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet aircraft; the EA-18G Growler Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft; the MH-60S Multi-Mission Knighthawk Helicopters; the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft; and the E-2C Hawkeye Early Warning and Control Aircraft. The NAWDC provides service to aircrews, squadrons and air wings throughout the US Navy through flight training, academic instructional classes, and direct operational and intelligence support. The name was changed from NSAWC to NAWDC to align with the naming convention of the Navy’s other Warfare Development Centers. Work will take place at NAWDC, Fallon, Nevada. Estimated completion date is in July 2020.
A critical High Cycle Testing for the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system has been successfully completed, General Atomics announced on January 3. The testing over a two-day period was carried out at the Runway Arrested Landing Site (RALS) in Lakehurst, New Jersey in October 2019. During the testing, the AAG sustained an aircraft arrestment rate of nearly one per minute. Simulating the operational tempo of carrier flight operations at sea. High cycle testing is part of the verification and validation of AAG System requirements. The AAG system test program has completed more than 5,000 arrestments at the land-based test facilities at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and 747 arrestments aboard CVN 78 during the ship’s initial sea trials. The Navy has also issued an Aircraft Recovery Bulletin for the fleet air wing, clearing the AAG system for use on all Ford Class carriers.
Middle East & Africa
L3 Technologies won a $28 million deal for F-16 training system upgrade. The contract provides for the upgrade to existing Hellenic Air Force F-16 Aircrew Training Devices to the F-16V configuration. Greece boasts a fleet of some 150 F-16 fighters. Earlier this month, Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos told the parliament that 84 of them would be upgraded to the advanced Viper class by 2027. The total cost of the upgrade program is estimated to reach $1.5 billion, according to the AP news agency. Work will take place in Arlington, Texas and is expected to refinished by December 31, 2027.
Europe
Collins Aerospace won a $10.8 million deal for repair coverage of the digital engine control unit of the F402 engine.The Rolls Royce F402-RR-408 Pegasus is the powerplant for the AV-8B Harrier II. It develops the powerful thrust required for vertical lift of the AV-8B aircraft. The variable direction exhaust from these allow the aircraft to take off vertically or in the normal horizontal runway mode. Work will take place in Birmingham in the UK. Estimated completion will be by December 2024.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has taken delivery of 2 H125 helicopters. The rotorcraft arrived in Kyiv this week. On July 14, 2018, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the purchase of 55 H225, H145 and H125 helicopters for the ministry. The unified aviation security and safety system of Ukraine is set to be replenished with 55 helicopters. Of these, the State Border Guard Service will receive 24 helicopters. Before that, specialists who will service aviation and radio-electronic equipment, as well as pilots, had gone to France to undergo training.
Asia-Pacific
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems won a $9.4 million deal for follow-on support sustainment of the Republic of Korea Peace Pioneer program. The deal provides for repair and return on the prime mission equipment and System Integration Laboratory (SIL) equipment, support of the field service representative, program management, core/field engineering, SIL depot sustainment, depot inventory, and obsolescence management. The Peace Pioneer program was notified to Congress in 1995 for a signal intelligence collection system with prime mission equipment, attendant ground links, and ground processing equipment. Work under the new contract will take place in Greenville, Texas, and Seongnam, South Korea. Estimated completion will be by December 31, 2020.
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Watch: Indian Defence Updates : AGNI-V Induction 2020,1st Su-30 Squadron With BrahMos,New Light Weight BPJ
Bell Boeing won a $23.3 million contract modification, which exercises an option for on-site support, engineering and technical analysis of flight test for V-22 aircraft for the Navy, Air Force and the government of Japan. Bell-Boeing’s primary product, V-22 Osprey, is a family of multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft, with both vertical as well as short takeoff and landing capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter, with long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. This military aircraft can carry 24 combat troops or up to 20,000 pounds of internal cargo or 15,000 pounds of external cargo. Work will take place in Maryland, Texas and Pennsylvania and is expected to be completed in December.
The Argentine Air Force returned to service one of its Fokker F28 medium transport jets, Jane’s reports. The last of the aircraft was grounded in August 2019 due to structural problems with the type, after finding the service had no budget to fund a replacement fleet. The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a twin-engine short range jet airliner designed and built by Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. On December 27, with the F28’s tests flights concluded, FAA chief Brigadier General Enrique Amrein used the aircraft for one of his visits to the main FAA bases across the country and, as a former F28 pilot, was in control of it for part of his journey.
Middle East & Africa
Leidos won $23 million for Foreign Military Sales to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The deal provides for General Electronic Test Station (GETS-1000) test equipment and test program set hardware and software, test equipment upgrades and repair parts; and services including test equipment installation, training, in-country technical assistance, and engineering services support. Leidos’ GETS-1000 is a depot test equipment supporting the military equipment in missile weapon systems such as Lockheed Martin’s LMT Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles and Raytheon’s RTN M3 Hawk surface-to-air missiles. Work will take place in Huntsville, Alabama and estimated completion date is December 31, 2020.
Rapiscan Systems won a $12.3 million Foreign Military Sale to Iraq. The contract is for contractor logistics support services for M60 High Energy Mobile Scanning Vehicle Systems and associated equipment. The US company Rapiscan Systems specializes in walk-through metal detectors ans X-ray machines for screening luggage and cargo. Contracting Activity is the US Army Contracting Command. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will take place in Iraq and expected completion will be on November 30, 2020.
Europe
A UH-60M helicopter carrying Taiwan’s Chief of the General Staff Gen. Shen Yi-ming has crashed this morning. The aircraft went down in Yuanshan Township. Eight Taiwanese military officers including General Shen Yi-ming were killed. Thirteen people were on board the UH-60M Black Hawk, part of the Air Force Rescue Team, which took off from Songshan Air Force Base in Taipei just before 8 a.m. It was headed for a military base in Dongao, in the northeast, as part of an inspection before the Lunar New Year holiday later this month, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported. The helicopter disappeared from radar screens about 10 minutes after takeoff, crashing in a mountainous area between the capital and the coast. It was not clear what caused the crash of the Black Hawk.
Asia-Pacific
The Indian Air Force has reactivated the 222 Squadron with the Su-30MKI. The unit was number plated back in 2011 after flying the MiG-27. The 222 Squadron ‘The Tigersharks’ of Indian Air Force got resurrected on January 1, with state of the art Su-30 MKI Multirole Fighter aircraft. “#Resurrection: 222 Sqn ‘The Tigersharks’ got resurrected today with state of the art Su-30MKI Multi-role Fighter aircraft. Raised on 15 Sep 69 with Su-7, the Sqn was later equipped with #MiG27 Ground Attack Aircraft prior to getting number plated in 2011.,” IAF said in a tweet.
Today’s Video
Watch: Indian Defence Updates : India’s New ORCA Fighter Jet,MWF Gets Next Gen WAD,New Su-30MKI Squadron
The Navy awarded Lockheed Martin with a $1.9 billion deal, which procures recurring logistics services for delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Air Systems. The contract is in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy as well as non-DoD participants and Foreign Military Sales customers. Services to be provided include ground maintenance activities, action request resolution, depot activation activities, automatic logistics information system operations and maintenance, reliability, maintainability and health management implementation and support, supply chain management and activities to provide and support pilot and maintainer initial training. On December 30, Lockheed Martin reached its 2019 target to deliver 131 F-35 fighter jets to the United States and its allies, as the defense contractor built 47% more jets this year. The world’s largest defense contractor delivered a total of 134 of the stealthy jets this year and aims to deliver 141 F-35s in 2020. Work under the $1.9 billion contract will take place in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, California as well as the UK. Estimated completion date is in December 2020.
Lockheed Martin won a $138.5 million contract to exercise options for AEGIS Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) efforts for the design, development, integration, test and delivery of Advanced Capability Build (ACB) 20. Under this contract, the AEGIS CSEA develops, integrates, tests and delivers computer program baseline Advanced Capability Builds; supports Technology Insertions (TI) (a replacement and/or upgrade of combat system computing hardware and associated middleware/firmware-design development); develops engineering products to support ship integration; supports developmental test/operational test events; develops training and logistics products; and provides field technical support for designated AEGIS baselines. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for Aegis CSEA efforts. The systems engineering, development and integration work under this contract will begin with Advanced Capability Build (ACB) 16 and technology insertion 16, and continue with a future ACB/TI through the period of performance of the contract. Work will take place in Moorestown, New Jersey. Estimated completion will be by December 2020.
Middle East & Africa
SOS International LLC won a $124.2 million contract modification for base life support and security services at Camp Taji Green Zone, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. The deal is to enhance security at the US base north of Baghdad. In June, the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria confirmed that rockets landed inside the base but no soldiers were killed or wounded. Work will take place in Taji, Iraq. Fiscal 2020 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $ 42,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award.
The US Army Contracting Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $114 million for accelerated delivery for Foreign Military Sales to the United Arab Emirates of Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target Advanced Capability-3 missiles with associated ground support equipment and initial spares. The accelerated delivery of its Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept of Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles calls for sales of Lockheed’s guided air and missile defense system, ground support equipment and spares to the United Arab Emirates, with work expected to be completed by December 31, 2024. The success of the PAC-3 missile helped Lockheed executives raise their 2019 sales guidance for the company’s Missiles and Fire Control business segment to $9.95 billion in October.
Europe
According to local media, Estonian Defense Minister Jüri Luik, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, and the Finnish Permanent Defense Secretary Jukka Juusti signed a letter of intent in Tallinn on December 17 for a joint AFV research and development. “The letter of intent signed today is the beginning of the joint undertaking between Estonia, Latvia, and Finland in acquiring new armored vehicles. We have agreed to carry out joint research and development,” Luik said. “We have a very positive long-term relationship with Finland in procurement and have bought self-propelled artillery and radar systems together. We want to extend this co-operation to Latvia,” he explained further.
Asia-Pacific
Indonesian aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) unveiled a prototype of an indigenously developed medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The strike-capable UAV, which has been dubbed Elang Hitam or Black Eagle, was unveiled to the public on December 30 at PTDI’s facilities in Bandung. The platform is the product of an Indonesian consortium that includes state-owned electronics company PT Len, the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU), and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space. The Elang Hitam is 8.65 m long, 2.6 m high, has a wingspan of 16 m, and has incorporated several design aspects of China’s CH-4 UAV.
Today’s Video
Watch: Newest USAF Helicopter Unveiled • MH-139A Grey Wolf
