Huntington Ingalls Tapped For DDG-51 FYS | Egypt Receives Third Type 209 Submarine | 668 French Sailors Tested Positive For COVID-19

Americas

Huntington Ingalls won a $23.4 million modification to exercise options for accomplishment of follow yard class services (FYS) for the DDG-51 class destroyer program. The DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class is a multimission warship. It features an advanced antiSubmarine warfare system, the AEGIS combat system, the vertical launching system, two embarked SH-60 helicopters along with advanced anti-aircraft missiles and land attack missiles. Huntington Ingalls’ business segment, Ingalls, has in-depth experience in manufacturing amphibious assault and expeditionary ships for the US Navy. Being the US Navy’s primary surface combatant, the Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke Class destroyers enjoy solid demand, indicating the possibility of increased revenue recognition for the company in the coming days. Work will take place in Mississippi, Washington DC and Maine. Estimated completion will be by April 2021.

The US Air Force is progressing electronic warfare (EW) testing of the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System upgrade for the Boeing F-15 combat aircraft. An F-15E Strike Eagle fitted with the BAE Systems EPAWSS electronic defensive aids system began the first phase of critical EW testing at the Benefield Anechoic Facility on Edwards Air Force Base, California, in May 2019. Testing is currently continuing at the same facility, the air force said. “The ongoing tests are required to collect the data to establish the integration of the EPAWSS radar and missile warning capabilities and the electronic countermeasures onto the F-15E platform,” Ed Sabat, Project Development Lead and Civilian Director of Operations with the 772nd Test Squadron was quoted as saying.

Middle East & Africa

The Nigerian Army received a consignment of Chinese armored vehicles and artillery systems that included Norinco VT4 main battle tanks, ST1 tank destroyers, and self-propelled howitzers. Nigerian Army Chief of Policy and Plans Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun told local TV news during the unloading of the equipment at Lagos docks on 8 April that it was part of a large consignment ordered from China that included two types of “artillery heavy guns”. He added that the initial consignment included 15 40-ft containers of spares and accessories. The Nigerian Army did not identify the type or numbers of platforms being procured, although the media reported that 17 were delivered in this consignment, which is the first under a $152 million contract signed in 2019 that also includes support and training.

The Egyptian Navy’s third Class 209/1400mod (Type 209) submarine is now heading to Egypt after it was formally handed over by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The German company said the handover of S43 took place at its Kiel yard, but that only a small number of people were present because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Given the global corona pandemic, this handover marks a very special milestone for us,” TKMS CEO Dr Rolf Wirtz said. “We are extremely proud of our employees, who completed the boat on time and in line with our comprehensive health protection measures.”

Europe

The French Navy says 668 sailors from the Charles de Gaulle battle group have been tested positive for COVID-19. Thirty-one have been hospitalized with one in intensive care unit. Last week, it was decided to bring the Charles-de-Gaulle home 10 days early from a deployment in the Atlantic after some crew members showed symptoms. The carrier, which had helicopters and fighter jets on board, was accompanied by two frigates. Sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle, one of the frigates and the pilots who returned the aircraft to their respective bases, are all placed in isolation for 14 days, the ministry said.

Asia-Pacific

Northrop Grumman delivers two more E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) aircraft to the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). Following assembly and some test flights at Iwakuni, the two aircraft, which belong to an initial batch of four, are set to be transferred to Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan where the JASDF’s 601st Squadron, which operates both E-2C and E-2D aircraft, is based. The US Department of Defense announced in September 2019 that the US Naval Air Systems Command had awarded Northrop Grumman a $1.36 billion contract modification for the production and delivery of nine additional aircraft to Japan, bringing to the number of E-2Ds under contract for the JASDF to 13.

Today’s Video

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