Northrop To Deliver Two MQ-4 UAVs | France Received Second KC-130J | India Starts Testing Nirbhay Missiles

Americas

Northrop Grumman won a $172.4 million contract modification, which exercises options for the production and delivery of two MQ-4 Triton Unmanned Air Systems for the Navy, one Navy main operating base, trade studies and associated technical and administrative data. The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude long endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle designed for the US Navy as a surveillance aircraft. The system is intended to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions (ISR) over vast ocean and coastal regions, continuous maritime surveillance, conduct search and rescue missions, and to complement the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Work will take place in California, Texas, Virginia, North Dakota and various other location within the US. Estimated completion will be in January 2024.

Electric Boat Corp. won a $7.6 million contract action to perform Phase III of the Virginia Class Main Propulsion Machinery control systems effort. The Virginia Class is a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine built for anti-sub and anti-surface operations. It is armed with torpedoes, Tomahawk Cruise missiles and is capable of mine-laying operations. It can also deliver special forces teams as it has the ability to operate in shallow or littoral waters. It is the US Navy’s newest undersea warfare platform and incorporates the latest in stealth, intelligence gathering and weapons systems technology. Work will take place in Sunnyvale, California and is scheduled to be finished by March 2021.

Middle East & Africa

Ericsson Helicopters won a $93.6 million contract modification, which provides continued rotary- and fixed-wing airlift support services, including passenger, cargo, casualty evacuation, personnel recovery, air drop and limited door-to-door services to US Africa Command. Work will take place in continental Africa, African island an countries supporting operations in Africa, such as Germany and Italy. Option period of performance is from February 2, 2020 to February 1, 2021. Just recently the chief of US Africa Command made a pitch to maintain the US military presence on the continent, as reports circulate about potential cuts to focus on threats from China and Russia. “I have learned that small investments – a few troops and a few bucks – can go a long way and make a real difference in Africa,” CNN quoted Gen. Stephen Townsend, the head of US Africa Command.

Vectrus Systems Corp. won a $23 million contract modification to provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform Area Support Group-Kuwait Dining Facility food services. The Area Support Group-Kuwait is a subordinate command for the United States Army Forces Central Command. Work will take place in Kuwait City, Kuwait and estimated completion date is February 9, 2020.

Europe

Lockheed Martin delivered the second and last KC-130J tanker-transport aircraft to France as part of a wider Hercules procurement effort. The tanker variant of the C-130J transport aircraft was handed over to French officials at the Marietta production facility in Georgia on February 4. The event came four months after the first KC-130J arrived at Orléans-Bricy Air Base in France in late September 2019. Prior to receiving its two KC-130Js, France had earlier taken delivery of two ‘stretched’ transport C-130J-30 aircraft. All four aircraft are to be operated by 2/61 “Franche-Comté” 123 at Orléans-Bricy Air Base.

Asia-Pacific

India will start testing a Nirbhay Cruise missile fitted with a small turbofan engine manufactured by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE). Besides the new engine, a new radio frequency seeker will be tested out as well. The country will probably carry out the first developmental trial of a Nirbhay Cruise missile fitted with an indigenous propulsion system in April. Called the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), the weapon, which is essentially the Nirbhay missile fitted with the indigenous Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE), is being developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) of India’s state-owned Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). ADE has planned two developmental tests using the ITCM to demonstrate the STFE and a new radio frequency seeker.

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