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Apr 17, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
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.
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Watch: USS BARRY OF U.S NAVY SAILS THROUGH TAIWAN STRAIT UNCHALLENGED IN SUPPORT OF TAIWAN!
Apr 16, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
Raytheon won a $13.7 million modification to exercise options in support of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Design Agent, in-service support and technical engineering support services. The ESSM program is an international effort to design, develop and test missiles to improve ship defense. It forms part of an international defense agreement between the US and nine of its military allies. The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) (RIM-162) is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile designed and manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems. The missile is currently in service with the US Navy and some of the 12 NATO Sea Sparrow consortium nations. Work will take place in Arizona, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Australia, West Virginia, Canada, Spain, Turkey and Greece. Expected completion will be by December 2020.
The Pentagon awarded $415 million to Battelle Memorial Institute to decontaminate used N95 respirator systems amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to the DoD, which awarded the contract on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, the deal should allow Battelle to decontaminate up to 80,000 used N95 respirators per system per day, allowing masks to be reused up to 20 times. Battelle , which develops products across a range of disciplines including robotics and oil drilling and has already set up decontamination sites in several American cities, announced last week that it would be providing decontamination services to healthcare providers at no charge.
Middle East & Africa
The State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Morocco of ten AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Air Launched missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $62 million. The Government of Morocco had requested to buy 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Air Launched missiles. Also included are containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor representatives’ technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The AGM-84 Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system produced by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). Its low-level, sea-skimming cruise capability, active radar guidance and warhead design assure high survivability and effectiveness. The missile is capable of being launched from aircraft, surface ships, submarines, and shore batteries.
Boeing announced that it has successfully completed the first flight of the F-15QA fighter during a 90-minute mission from the Lambert International Airport in St. Louis. The company developed the F-15QA for the Qatar Emiri Air Force. “This successful first flight is an important step in providing the QEAF an aircraft with best-in-class range and payload,” said Prat Kumar, Boeing vice president and F-15 program manager. The F-15QA includes fly-by-wire flight controls, a digital cockpit, modernized sensors, radar and a electronic warfare capabilities — and the world’s fastest mission computer.
Europe
Saab announced that it would introduce reduced working hours for 500 employees at the business unit Aerostructures within the business area Industrial Product and Services (IPS). A majority of these employees will work 60 percent of their regular hours. The agreement is valid from April 14. Until now, the impact of COVID-19 on Saab has been low, given the company’s large order backlog and business model with long-term commitments. Saab’s business unit Aerostructures supplies products to the civil aviation industry, which has been affected considerably by the effects of COVID-19. Following the outbreak, the unit has experienced a reduction in demand and supply chain challenges. Meanwhile, the company noted that its large order backlog and business model with long-term commitments has helped to keep the outbreak impact to a minimum on the group.
Asia-Pacific
The Australian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that exercise Pitch Black 2020 has been canceled to “ensure compliance with COVID-19-related Government restrictions.” The exercise was scheduled to take place in Northern Australia from July 24 till August 14. It was previously reported that Defense was reviewing its options for the multi-lateral exercise, which was to have been held in the Northern Territory skies between July 24 and August 14. However, ongoing restrictions in places across Australia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have influenced the decision to formally cancel the exercise for 2020.
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Watch: AFTER RUSSIAN ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV ACCIDENT OF LAST YEAR , NOW CHINESE TYPE 075 HAS A MISHAP !
Apr 15, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
Raytheon Missile Systems won a $30.3 million delivery order to procure 32 Tomahawk Mid-Body Range Safety Subsystems and 32 Flight Test Kits. Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile in service with the surface ships and submarines of the US and the UK’s Royal Navy. Originally produced by General Dynamics, Tomahawk is currently manufactured by Raytheon. The Tomahawk can strike high-value or heavily defended land targets. The Block II TLAM-A missile achieved initial operating capability in 1984. The missile was first deployed in combat during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Work under the delivery order will take place in Arizona, Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina, California, Florida, Missouri and various locations within the continental US. Completion is expected by March 2023.
Last year, a US Air Force F-16 assigned to the 14th Fighter Squadron accidentally dropped an inert GBU-12 bomb outside the range in Japan. Pacific Air Force has now released the mishap report. The Accident Investigation Board found that pilot error was the cause. The investigators have found that “that a failure of communication during an assisted weapons deployment procedure caused the mishap pilot to fail to confirm that the Sensor Point of Interest he had selected was the target to which the other formation was guiding the weapon. Substantially contributing factors include channelized attention, changing weather, and targeting technical error.”
Middle East & Africa
Elbit Systems announced its business update amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company has implemented a number of safety measures across all its sites, including increasing the number of manufacturing line shifts to enhance social distancing. Where feasible, employees are working from home. Elbit has also initiated business continuity plans to meet customer needs. Where necessary the company is working on finding alternative solutions for delivering products to customers, including chartering dedicated cargo aircraft to meet delivery schedules. Additionally, the company is working to leverage its portfolio of leading technologies to fight the pandemic.
Europe
The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency awarded Saab a contract to supply Sweden with firefighting capabilities. The order is for the capability to fight fires with two firefighting aircraft, from April 1 to September 30, through to 2023. Under the contract there is also the opportunity to trigger an option for two more aircraft, beginning with the 2021 fire season. This resource will be available for Sweden and for EU. Saab established aerial firefighting capabilities, using the Air Tractor AT-802 F firefighting aircraft, with the associated pilot and technician skills, as well as the specific permits for their operation. The AT-802 F is a water-bombing aircraft that in the event of a forest fire can release 35,000-50,000 liters of water per hour. The firefighting aircraft will be based in Nyköping, where Saab already has aviation operations for, among other things, aerial target towing and support for the Swedish Coast Guard’s aircraft.
Asia-Pacific
The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of 15 Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes to India. The potential $63 million sale includes 16 Mk 54 All Up Round Lightweight Torpedoes, three Mk 54 Exercise Torpedoes, and related equipment. The Mark 54 Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo is a standard anti-submarine warfare torpedo developed by Raytheon and introduced in 2004. It combines the homing section of the Mk 50, and the warhead and propulsion of the Mk 46 improved for better performance in littoral waters.
The US State Department approved the potential foreign military sale of ten AGM-84L Harpoon Block II air launched missiles and related equipment to the Government of India for $92 million. The deal also includes containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, Specialized Assignment Airlift Missions (SAAM). The Harpoon missile system can perform anti-surface warfare missions to defend critical sea lanes when integrated into the P-8I aircraft.
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Watch: GLUAS or GRENADE LAUNCHED UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS COULD BE NEXT BIG THING FOR U.S ARMY !
Apr 14, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
Northrop Grumman won a $12.7 million delivery order for selector antenna in support of the P-8 aircraft program. The P-8A is a militarized version of the Boeing 737 commercial aircraft. The P-8A has an active multi-static and passive acoustic sensor system, inverse synthetic aperture radar, new electronic support measures system, new electro-optical/infrared sensor and a digital magnetic anomaly detector. Its nine-person crew includes a dual-pilot cockpit and five mission crew. The P-8A has workstations with universal multi-function displays, and ready accommodation for additional workstations and workload sharing. Work will take place in Maryland. Estimated completion date is February 13, 2025.
The Brazilian Air Force was forced to take two of its KC-390 transports away from instructional flights in order to airlift medical supplies to areas affected by COVID-19. The Brazilian Air Force received its first Embraer KC-390 transport on September 4. The twin-turbofan-powered KC-390 can be refueled in flight and can be used for in-flight or on-ground refueling of other aircraft. The military aircraft has a cargo bay equipped with an aft ramp similar to Hercules, and is capable of transporting a wide variety of cargo, including armored vehicles.
Middle East & Africa
Bayraktar TB2 UAVS participated in a Qatari military exercise for the first time. The Qatari Ministry of Defense released footage showing Exercise ‘Al-Adheed 2020’ that included brief clips of a Bayraktar TB2 taxiing and taking off. The UAV was not carrying weapons, but the video implied that it carried out precision strikes during live firing at the Qurayn Abu al-Bawl training area in the south of the country. Qatar’s order for six Bayraktar TB2s, three ground control stations, and a training simulator was announced during the DIMDEX show held in Doha in March 2018.
Europe
A Ukrainian MiG-29 had an accident while landing at Melitopol air base on April 10. State Bureau of Investigation said the pilot had violated flight rules during the landing and will be investigated under Article 416 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The pretrial investigation is under way to probe into the violation of the flight rules, which entails grave consequences. The punishment is imprisonment for a period of five to 15 years. The aircraft made an emergency belly-landing on the runway, one of its wing was damaged. The pilot survived.
RAMSYS GmbH won a €12.1 million and $66.2 million contract modification to exercise options for the Block 1A Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Guided Missile Round Packs (GRMPs) recertification. The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile is a small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile. The RIM-116 RAM is designed as a high-firepower, low-cost, self-defense system against anti-ship cruise missiles and other asymmetric threats. For all versions of the missile, there is no shipboard support required after missile launch. The original Block 0 design was based upon the infra-red seeker of the Stinger missile, and the warhead, rocket motor and fuse from the Sidewinder missile. The Block 0 configuration uses Radio Frequency for midcourse guidance and transitions to Infrared guidance for terminal engagement. The Block 1A incorporates the added capability of autonomous IR-all-the-way guidance, thus countering advanced anti-ship cruise missiles that do not employ onboard radar seekers. Work will take place in Ottobrunn, Germany and Tucson, Arizona. Expected completion will be by September 2021.
Asia-Pacific
India will likely have to wait till July to get its Rafale jets on home soil, according to The Hindu. The delivery flight home has been delayed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Test and support equipment are still stuck in India. Travel restrictions imposed by India on anyone coming from Europe is complicating the situation. Additionally, the lockdown restrictions are expected to continue in France at least till the end of April due to severity of the outbreak. “So, it is only obvious that we expect corresponding delay,” the newspaper cited two sources. India has contracted 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets from France in fly-away condition with 13 India Specific Enhancements under an $8.5 billion Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in September 2016. As per the IGA, deliveries begin 36 months from signing of contract and will be completed in 67 months.
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Watch: DEFENSE UPDATES WEEKLY NEWS ROUND-UP 12th APRIL-CHINA HARASS INDONESIA, GERALD FORD TESTING & MORE!
Apr 13, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
Lockheed Martin won a $10.6 million contract to exercise an option for the Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) efforts. As the developer of the Aegis Combat System, Lockheed Martin continues its 40-year legacy as the AEGIS CSEA for the US Navy. The AEGIS CSEA is responsible for combat system engineering services, including the design, development and life cycle support, for all AEGIS-equipped ships. Work to be performed includes the development and design of engineering and logistics products as well as training to support ship integration, developmental test/operational test events and field technical support will be provided. Work will take place in Moorestown, New Jersey. Expected completion will be by December 2020.
The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $14.9 million modification to procure depot component repair capability for the F-35 hydraulic power generation system and land gear under low rate initial production Lot 11 for the Navy, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants. In November Lockheed won a $184.5 million to establish organic depot level repair capabilities for the F-35 aircraft under a previously awarded low-rate initial production Lot 11 contract. Work will take place in Fort Worth, Texas and Wolverhampton, UK. Expected completion will bet by April 2023.
Middle East & Africa
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s (ADDED’s) Industrial Development Bureau announced that it was launching a new program to encourage investment in the Emirate’s local industry. Called the Abu Dhabi Local Content program, companies will be incentivized to invest in establishing their supply chains in Abu Dhabi when bidding on contracts for the government. ADDED chairman H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa said in a statement that private sector investors are expected to benefit from local products, expertise, and talent. Additionally, companies are being encouraged under the ADLC program to ramp up their productivity and to further add value to locally produced products.
Europe
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the US State Department approved the sale of Excalibur tactical projectiles to the Netherlands. The deal is valued at $40.55 million and is for 199 Excalibur Increment IB M982Al tactical projectiles. The statement added that deal also included technical assistance, training, associated support equipment, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The Dutch munitions procurement would be put in the field alongside conventional artillery units equipped with the German-made PzH2000NL self-propelled howitzer “to provide precision fires capability in order to reduce collateral damage and increase effectiveness in various areas of operation,” according to the DSCA announcement. Raytheon is the prime contractor.
Asia-Pacific
The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale covering support and services for the South Korea’s planned procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, comes with an estimated price tag of $675 million. The Republic of Korea had requested follow-on support and services for its F-35 aircraft, engines, and weapons; publications and technical documentation; support equipment; spare and repair parts; repair and return; test equipment; software delivery and support; pilot flight equipment; personnel training equipment; US Government and contractor technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of program support.
The Thai government has decided not to buy two T-50TH advanced jet trainers made by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The South East Asian country was supposed to buy two jets to increase the fleet to 14 aircraft. The decision to drop the purchase was made so that funds from the defense budget could be allocated to help tackle the COVID-19 crises. The government on April 8 reported 111 new local cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including 42 returnees from Indonesia, raising the total to 2,369. Three more deaths, all of foreigners, took the accumulated toll to 30.
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Watch: B1B BOMBER WILL DEPLOY HYPERSONIC AIR-LAUNCHED RAPID RESPONSE WEAPON !
Apr 10, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
GE Aviation won a $9.7 million contract modification, which procures non-recurring engineering for the phase two assembly planning effort for the re-start of T-64 engine core production in support of the H-53E Engine Reliability Improvement Program. The deal funds the phase two assembly planning effort for the GE T64 is a turboshaft engine used in both fixed-wing aircraft and in helicopters, for which it was originally developed. It powers the CH-53E Super Stallion. The Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter operated by the US Navy and Marine Corps as well as the Japanese Navy. Work will take place in Massachusetts, Vermont, North Carolina and Kentucky. Expected completion will be by December 2021.
USAF Global Strike Command chief General Timothy Ray told Air Force Magazine that he wants to have a squadron of modified B-1B bombers that can carry the AGM-183 hypersonic missile on external hardpoints. The B-1B has eight external hardpoints that were designed to carry the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile. These hardpoints were covered up except for one on the port side for the Sniper pod. “My goal would be to bring on at least a squadron’s worth of airplanes modified with external pylons on the B-1, to carry the ARRW hypersonic cruise missile,” Ray was quoted as saying. He added that the B-1B test fleet at Edwards Air Force Base will be increased from two to eight aircraft to take some of the “load off the B-52” in hypersonic missile testing. An expanded carriage demonstration on the B-1B was carried out by the 412th Test Wing last year.
Middle East & Africa
The US-led international coalition tasked with fighting Daesh yesterday withdrew from the Abu Ghraib base, west of the capital Baghdad. It has now withdrawn from six locations in Iraq since March 19, when it handed over a position near Al-Qaim close to the Syrian border to the Iraqi military. This was followed by Al-Qayyarah West Air Base in Mosul province on March 26, K1 Air Base near the northern city of Kirkuk on March 31, and Al-Habbaniyah (Al-Taqaddum) Air Base in the western province of Al-Anbar on April 4. CJTF-OIR said all these withdrawals were long planned and reflected the progress that Iraqi forces have made against Islamic State extremists. The coalition will continue to support Iraqi forces “from fewer places, with fewer faces”, according to spokesman Colonel Myles Caggins.
Europe
Estonia has signed a technical agreement with Finland and Latvia enabling it to continue to participate in the program to develop military requirements and a platform for a common wheeled armored vehicle, the Estonian Ministry of Defense announced. The agreement was signed by Kristjan Prikk, permanent secretary in the Estonian MoD, who said, “Our primary goal here is to develop a platform that meets the requirements of Estonian Defense Forces with a favorable price.” The MoD added that the platform could be a possible replacement of its older Pasi armored vehicles, a decision on which will be made with the new Estonian national defense development plan.
Asia-Pacific
First-of-class flight trials for Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) MH-60R ‘Romeo‘ maritime multirole helicopters aboard landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel HMAS Adelaide will begin shortly, the RAN announced on April 7. The trials, which will take place off the Queensland coast, will determine the safe operating limits of the Lockheed Martin-made anti-submarine- and anti-surface warfare-capable helicopters aboard the 27,500 tonne LHD in a range of sea states and wind speeds at both day and night. They will also include aviation facilities assessments, equipment calibration, and evaluation of the interface between a particular helicopter type and class of ship.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense has revealed that it will spend $235 million in fiscal year 2020 on cyber-security-related activities and programs, including the development of an artificial intelligence-based system to counter cyber attacks. This system is expected to automatically detect malicious e-mails and assess the level of threat by resorting to AI technologies, stated the MoD, adding that JPY30 million has already been earmarked for the current fiscal year for the system’s initial design.
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Watch: Indian Defence Updates : 6th Gen Su-57 Offer,Anti-Hypersonic S-400 India,Taiwan 6 Submarines Deal
Apr 09, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
General Electric won a $51.5 million contract modification to procure eight General Electric F414-400 spare engines, 11 afterburner modules and 12 low pressure turbine modules for the Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft. The Super Hornet is a twin-engine multirole fighter used by the United States and Australia. The first operational Super Hornet squadron was formed in June 2001. The deal modifies an earlier contract awarded in 2018 and funds the procurement of eight GE F414-400 spare engines, 11 afterburner modules and 12 low pressure turbine modules for the Super Hornet, which is made by Boeing. Work will take place in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Kentucky. Expected completion date will be by October 2022.
USS Gerald R. Ford recently completed its first full test of the integrated combat system against fighter aircraft with help from Kfir and Hunter fighters provided by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company. The ship’s Dual Band Radar successfully tracked the tactical aircraft. The ship’s Combat Direction Center simulated engaging the hostile fighters. Ron McCallister, Ford’s combat systems officer, noted the testing was a collaborative effort between Naval Sea Systems Command along with the greater technical community and the ship’s force. “The tests exercise the combat systems suite as a complete unit and ensure maximum availability to meet combat and self-defense mission requirements,” said McCallister. “In the end, the combat systems suite achieves maximum readiness and the Sailors develop more operational and technical competence.”
Middle East & Africa
One of the Malian Armed Forces’ four Embraer EMB 314/A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprops crashed on April 7. The FAMa announced details of the crash later that day, saying it happened near Sévaré Camp in central Mali. The Malian Air Force’s Base Aérienne 102 is located at Sévaré Airport. Chief of Staff of the Air Force Brigadier General Souleymane Doucouré held a press conference during which he identified the aircraft (TZ-04) and the two Malian pilots who were killed.
Europe
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won an $8.4 million contract modification for the United Kingdom (UK) MQ-9 contractor logistics support launch and recovery element (LRE). The UK-1 LRE aircrew, readiness spares package-out, and UK-2 logistics readiness support will be performed at multiple stateside and international locations and is expected to be completed September 30, 2021. GA-ASI claims that its Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) eliminates the need for a ground control station located near the aircraft’s base, which will “drastically reduce airlift requirements when the Remotely Piloted Aircraft is forward deployed.” The first flight of the production-representative MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) meant for the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) was completed on March 30.
Asia-Pacific
The Mirage 2000 fleet of the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) in Taiwan has been deployed to Ching Chuan Kang Air Base. New reports say the main runway at their home base in Hsinchu is being renovated. Only a small number of Mirages are there for quick reaction alert duties. Mirage 2000 is a multirole combat fighter from French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. It has been operational with the French Air Force since 1984, and has been selected by Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Greece, India, Peru, Qatar, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates.
Azerbaijan has sent a delegation to Russia to evaluate the MiG-35 and Su-35, the country’s Ministry of Defense has announced. A group of specialists of the Azerbaijani Air Force visited Russian military-industrial enterprises. During meetings with representatives of one of the leaders of the global arms market in Russia, the Rosoboronexport company and the management of military factories, Azerbaijan expressed interest in purchasing the most advanced Russian-made combat aircraft. The Russian side, in turn, expressed its readiness to supply combat aircraft in an amount that meets the requirements of the Azerbaijani Air Force.
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Watch: STEALTH F35s ARMED WITH AARGM-ER ANTI RADIATION MISSILE TO TAKE ON S 400 !
Apr 08, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
Thales announced a series of measures to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, which include: significant reduction in discretionary spending; strengthening of actions to control working capital requirements; deferral of non-critical investments; maintaining the continuity of critical and strategic client services; and paid leave during the lockdown period, sharp reduction of temporary work. “This crisis is currently seriously disrupting production chains and project execution,” Patrice Caine, CEO, said. The Board therefore has decided to modify its 2019 dividend proposal. The dividend proposal will be limited to the interim dividend of 0.60 euros per share already paid in December 2019, allowing the Group to avoid a cash outflow of around 430 million euros. The AGM will take place on 6 May 2020 behind closed doors at the head office. Additionally, Thales announced the withdrawal of 2020 financial outlook. The company noted that, currently, it is impossible to quantify the financial impact of the crisis.
The US Air Force deployed over 120 medical personnel to New Jersey to help fight the coronavirus outbreak on 48 hours’ notice. Over 40 doctors, 70 nurses and 13 respiratory technicians left their home stations for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, outside New York City. After processing at the US Northern Command’s Joint Forces Land Component Command, they headed to the Javits Center, where a coalition of military and civilian builders is constructing an emergency hospital which house 4,000 beds by Tuesday. The Reserves’ Force Generation Center, in use since 2010, is responsible for the quick deployment, the Air Force said in a statement on April 6. It serves as a deployment cell, a 24/7 air operations center and a crisis action team manager for the Air Force Reserve.
Middle East & Africa
Boeing won a $68 million contract action for the F-15 Qatar program. The deal supports the Foreign Military Sales requirement for the Qatar Emiri Air Force. It also provides maintenance and logistics support for aircraft and training devices conducting pre-delivery training. In August 2019, Boeing was awarded a $500 million contract to provide aircrew and maintenance training for the Qatari Emiri Air Forces fleet of 36 F-15QAs. Qatar had signed a $12 billion deal with the US government for 36 F-15QAs in June 2017 in a deal widely seen to save the F-15 product line. The F-15QA is similar to Saudi Arabias F-15SA Advanced Eagle, which includes Raytheons APG-63(V)3 AESA radar, fly-by-wire control systems and 11 under-wing weapons stations. Work will take place in St. Louis, Missouri. Work its expected to be completed by December 21, 2021.
Europe
The UK Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Portland has become the first ship of its class to be fitted with the Sonar 2150 hull-mounted medium-frequency sonar. Ultra Electronics Command & Sonar Systems won a $33 million contract in 2014 by the UK Ministry of Defense to deliver the Sonar 2050 Technology Refresh (S2050TR) program. The S2050TR was established to address obsolescence in the legacy Thales Sonar 2050 system, reduce in-service support costs, and introduce a modern, sustainable commercial off-the-shelf-based architecture. The new system, subsequently given the designation Sonar 2150, is to equip the RN’s eight anti-submarine warfare (ASW)-roled Type 23 frigates. These ships are already fitted with the long-range Thales Sonar 2087 low-frequency active/passive variable depth sonar system.
Russia sent a transport aircraft with medical supplies to the United States. The country also dispatched a team of military virologists to Serbia to stem the spread of Covid-19, according to the country’s ministry of defense and top officials. An Aerospace Forces (VKS) An-124-100 transport delivered medical supplies and equipment to John F Kennedy airport in New York on April 1 to fight Covid-19. Russia’s UN envoy Dmitry Polyanskiy said the delivery comprised mainly of medical protective equipment, the costs of which Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova added were shared equally between the US and the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The aircraft returned to Russia on April 2. The country also begun assisting Serbia’s antivirus efforts, with 11 VKS Il-76 airlifters transporting 87 military medics and virologists, medical equipment, 16 vehicles, and medical protective kit to Batajnica airbase in Serbia
Asia-Pacific
Five Indian Army special forces personnel have been killed in hand-to-hand combat with five suspected militants in a forested and snow-bound area near the Line of Control (LoC) in Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian governments Press Information Bureau stated that the soldiers had been deployed in an operation along the LoC where they engaged “Pakistan-supported infiltrators in a close quarter battle in heavy snow, neutralizing the entire batch of five militants”. All five soldiers also lost their lives as a result of the engagement, three on the spot. The two others succumbed to their injuries as they were being airlifted to a nearby military hospital – said the PIB on April 6.
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Watch: How Coronavirus Is Changing Marine Corps Boot Camp
Apr 07, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
Thales Defense won a $8 million contract for H-60 reel and cable assemblies. The UH-60 Black Hawk, developed by Sikorsky, has been operational in the US Army since 1978. Black Hawk helicopters have logged over four million flying hours, including a diverse range of combat missions in Grenada, Panama, in the liberation of Kuwait, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and numerous humanitarian and rescue missions including operations in Bosnia. The deal is a one-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Maryland, with a September 30, 2021, performance completion date.
BAE Systems has received a $200.3 million contract from the US Navy to drydock and perform nearly 18 months of maintenance and modernization work aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). The USS Boxer is a Wasp Class amphibious assault ship. The drydocking of USS Boxer will be the first time the company’s San Diego shipyard will use its 950-foot-long Pride of California drydock to service a large-deck warship. BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard will begin working aboard the 843-foot-long USS Boxer in June 2020. Under the awarded contract, BAE Systems will upgrade the ship to support and operate Joint Strike Fighters on-board; perform hull, tank and mechanical work; and make other shipboard improvements. The shipyard is expected to complete its work aboard the 25-year-old ship in December 2021. The contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $207.48 million.
Middle East & Africa
An F-15E on a combat mission over the Middle East encountered a rare emergency on both engines in January but the crew was able to fly the aircraft to an emergency divert location. Jonathan Kipp, weapons system officer, from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron led a two-ship of F-15Es on a close air support mission. Four hours into the flight, the crew experienced problems. The datalink and air-to-air distance measuring equipment that improve situational awareness on their wingman were both inoperative. Finally, coalition ground control radar was temporarily down, meaning they were not getting updates on where other aircraft were in the area. This left them with only one way to locate their wingman, their radar.
Europe
Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Portugal have all committed troops to a new French-led special forces mission in the Sahel region called Task Force Takuba. The Takuba Task Force should reportedly reach its initial operational capacity in the summer of 2020 and its full operational capacity in early 2021. The Takuba Task Force will be able, by its structure, to act quickly and adapt to the evolution of the threat posed by terrorist groups. It will play a key role in the rapid empowerment of local armed forces. The taskforce will mainly consist of European special forces backed by the necessary support assets. It will be under the command of France’s Operation ‘Barkhane’ regional counter-insurgency mission, but will have a high level of autonomy. It will work closely with the G5 Sahel Joint Force that is made up of battalions from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.
Asia-Pacific
The 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Group of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has completed its move to Miyako-jima. The 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Group of the ground-to-air missile unit relocated from Takematsu Garrison in Nagasaki Prefecture. It operates a Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile (Medium SAM). The Japanese Ministry of Defense revealed on March 26 that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has deployed surface-to-air and anti-ship missile batteries along with about 340 troops to Miyakojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture to bolster the country’s defense capabilities amid China’s growing assertiveness near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
Kazakhstan is ramping up the involvement of its military in the fight against the outbreak of the coronavirus in the Central Asian country. In a statement the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Nur-Sultan said the Kazakh military is now “intensively involved in the maintenance of the state of emergency” in the country, adding that approximately 1,000 troops are being deployed to “disinfect facilities, man roadblocks, and carry out patrols” in Almaty – the country’s largest city – alone. On March 19 the Kazakh military also began setting up roadblocks in the streets leading in and out of both Nur-Sultan and Almaty.
Today’s Video
Watch: USS GERALD R. FORD’S INTEGRATED LAUNCH AND RECOVERY TELEVISION SURVEILLANCE IS AWESOME !
Apr 06, 2020 05:00 UTCAmericas
The US Air Force has come to an agreement with Boeing for the final KC-46A Pegasus Remote Vision System design. Two agreements were reached on April 2 to be incorporated in the KC-46 contract. The first Memorandum of Agreement institutes the redesign and retrofit of RVS 2.0 in full compliance with the contract requirements at no additional cost to the government. This agreement addresses deficiencies that hindered safe and effective refueling operations. The other agreement is to previously withheld contract payments to help Boeing counter Covid-19 impacts. This amount is worth $882 million for 33 KC-46s delivered so far. Within 120 days, the Air Force and Boeing will conduct an expedited process to determine final specification compliance or non-compliance.
Huntington Ingalls Industries won a $1.5 billion contract modification for the procurement of the detail design and construction of Landing Platform Dock (LPD) Class 31 and the LPD 17 Flight II ship. LPD 31 will be the 15th in the San Antonio class and the second Flight II LPD. Ingalls’ LPD Flight II program vendor base consists of more than 600 manufacturers and suppliers in 39 states, including 387 small businesses. More than 1,500 shipbuilders work on each LPD. Ingalls has delivered 11 San Antonio class ships to the Navy, and it has three more under construction. The San Antonio class is a major part of the Navy’s 21st century amphibious assault force. Work will take place in Mississippi, Virginia, Wisconsin and Louisiana. Work is expected to be finished by February 2027.
Middle East & Africa
Tornado reconnaissance aircraft of Tactical Air Force Wing 33 returned to their home base at Büchel from Al-Asraq, Jordan, on April 2, the Bundeswehr announced. Their homecoming ended a four-year mission against the Islamic State, starting from Incirlik, Turkey, in January 2016, and continuing from Al-Asraq starting in October 2017. During that period, the four Luftwaffe Tornados clocked up 7,500 flying hours during 2,467 missions, including more than 870 from Al-Asraq, collecting about 114,000 images for Operation ‘Inherent Resolve’, according to the Bundeswehr.
Europe
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics won a $512 million contract for F-16 Block 70 production for the Republic of Bulgaria. This contract value includes $4,185,516 of pre-priced options. The contract provides for the production of eight F-16 Block 70 aircraft. The F-16 Block 70 and Block 72 aircraft variants combine capability upgrades, most notably the advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, with new avionics architecture and structural upgrades to extend the structural life of the aircraft. Nations like the United States, Belgium, Israel, South Korea, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and others have deployed this aircraft in their arsenal. Work related to the deal will be completed in Fort Worth, Texas, and Greenville, South Carolina,, Estimated completion date is January 31, 2027.
Boeing delivered the first of14 new-build CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to be built to the latest US Army standard to the Netherlands, the manufacturer announced on April 3. The helicopter, which is the first to be built for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) with the advanced digital cockpit, was formally handed over at Boeing’s production facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As noted by Boeing, delivery of the remaining aircraft is expected to continue into 2021. The Netherlands currently fields 11 CH-47D helicopters that it first received in 1995 and six early-standard CH-47F helicopters that began arriving in 2012. Boeing is also to temporarily suspend production activities at its Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, facilities – the location of the CH-47’s final assembly line – for two weeks after the end of the working day on April 3, due to measures adopted during the coronavirus pandemic.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea is working hard to prepare its RQ-4fleet for initial operations this year. An anonymous military source told Yonhap that work is progressing smoothly. South Korea brought in the RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in December and has been working to put it in operation. A reconnaissance squadron was established in charge of the asset that month. Under a 2011 deal with the United States, South Korea purchased four units. The remaining three had been expected to arrive here in the first half of this year, but the schedule is not fixed, according to officials.
Today’s Video
Watch: OSHKOSH JLTV VS HMMWV – TOP 5 IMPROVEMENTS !!
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