Bath Iron Works (BIW) won a $132 million deal to fund capital expenditure projects for shipbuilder and supplier industrial base efforts in support of the USS Arleigh Burke DDG-51 class destroyer program. The deal will fund shipbuilder and supplier base efforts to address supply chain fragility and to ensure future readiness for the fleet. The Arleigh Burkes are the primary type of ship produced by BIW, a subsidiary of global aerospace and defense company General Dynamics. BIW provides planning yard services for all Arleigh Burke Class and Zumwalt Class destroyers including engineering, design, material kitting, logistics, planning and execution. The shipyard announced the contract modification as the company’s largest union, Local S6, continues to strike over disagreements about the proposed contract between BIW and the union. The union has decried to the company’s plans to continue hiring subcontractors and make changes to seniority privileges. Work will take place in Bath, Maine. Estimated completion will be by June 2028.
Huntington Ingalls won a $22.8 million contract modification for the USS Boise (SSN 764) Smart Start that encompasses continued advance planning, execution services, production and availability preparations for fiscal 2020 USS Boise engineered overhaul. The contracted requirements also include continued advance planning, execution services, production and availability preparations necessary to repair and maintain unrestricted operation of the submarine. It also includes upgrades and modernization efforts required to ensure the submarine is operating at full technical capacity as defined in the availability work package during the chief of naval operation’s scheduled availability. The USS Boise is a Los Angeles Class submarine, The Los Angeles Class is a nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. It is armed with both the land-attack and anti-ship version of the Tomahawk missile from Raytheon that can be fitted with a nuclear warhead. Work will take place in Newport News, Virginia. Expected completion will be by September 2020.
Middle East & Africa
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems won a sole-source contract in the amount of $2.3 billion under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Under this production contract, the contractor will provide seven Army/Navy Transportable Surveillance and Control Model 2 radars, radar spares, obsolescence design, sustainment services and initial contractor logistics support for KSA. Army/Navy Transportable Surveillance and Control Model 2 radar is a missile defense radar that can detect, track and discriminate ballistic missiles. It operates in the X-band of the electromagnetic spectrum. This enables it to see targets more clearly and distinguish between an actual menace and non-threats, like launch debris. Work will take place in Massachusetts. Performance period is June 26, 2020 to August 31, 2027.
Raytheon Won a $9.2 million deal for the Qatar Early Warning Radar (QEWR). This modification is for the construction of the communications infrastructure at the QEWR site. The company won a $1.06 billion deal to provide an early warning radar (EWR) to Doha in February 2017. The Qatari radar is expected to add long-range detection to the country’s layered Integrated Air and Missile Defense architecture, which includes Patriot systems and an Air Defense Operation Center. A layered defense takes fuller advantage of the specialized abilities of different radars and interceptors. The EWR will provide extra warning time to alert command centers and cue fire control systems. Work will take place in Woburn, Massachusetts and Qatar. Expected completion will be by December 2020.
Europe
Sweden’s ground-launched short-range air defense missile, the RBS 98, was successfully tested this week, the Swedish armed forces announced on Friday. The surface-to-air missile is a variant of the German-made IRIS-T air-to-air missile, in use by 11 countries, including several NATO countries, according to Swedish officials. During the test, the missiles were launched from a trailer pulled by a BvS 10 all-terrain amphibious armored vehicle, known as a Bandvagn 410. The vehicle consists of two tracked units, one carrying a crew of four, and the other carrying four missiles. The RBS 98, officially the Robotsystem 98, was designed to replace the US-made AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, and can engage a target at altitudes up to 12.5 miles.
Asia-Pacific
Taiwan has admitted that US troops have been training on the island after a video made by the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) last year showed the soldiers boarding a Black Hawk helicopter with Republic of China markings. The code name of the exercise is Balance Tamper and it involved Taiwan special forces personnel from the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion.
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Boeing won a $16.6 million order, which procures retrofit modification upgrades to the series aircrafts’ F/A-18 Block II Super Hornet and Growler display suites within the Block III Super Hornet and Growler Advanced Cockpit Systems. The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The single-seat F/A-18 Hornet is the nation’s first strike-fighter. It was designed for traditional strike applications such as interdiction and close air support without compromising its fighter capabilities. With its excellent fighter and self-defense capabilities, the F/A-18 at the same time increases strike mission survivability and supplements the F-14 Tomcat in fleet air defense. F/A-18 Hornets are currently operating in 37 tactical squadrons from air stations world-wide, and from 10 aircraft carriers. Work will take place in Missouri, Arizona, California and Florida. Estimated completion date will be in February 2025.
General Dynamics won an $11.2 million modification to extend the delivery date of the USS Cowpens (CG 63) fiscal 2018 modernization period from December 28, 2019, to November 25, 2020, in order to complete ship repairs and alterations. USS Cowpens (CG-63) is a Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser in service with the United States Navy The ship is named after the Battle of Cowpens, a major American victory near Cowpens, South Carolina in the American Revolution. She was built at the Bath Iron Works in Maine. Work will take place in San Diego, California. Estimated completion will be by November 2020.
Middle East & Africa
Boeing won a $439.2 million modification for new-build Apache AH-64E aircraft and Longbow crew trainers. Fiscal 2020 Foreign Military Sales funds to Morocco in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award. Morocco signed a contract with Boeing for 24 of its AH-64 Apache helicopters, becoming the 17th country to acquire the helicopter. Deliveries of the helicopters to Morocco are scheduled to commence in 2024. The helicopter, which has been designed and equipped with an open systems architecture, comprises the latest communications, navigation, sensor and weapon systems. Work will take place in Mesa, Arizona. Estimated completion date is March 1, 2025.
Europe
Izvestia reports that Russia will test the upgraded Su-57 from summer of 2022 and complete testing in two years. The fighter will have new engines and avionics. The hydraulic actuators will be replace by electric ones. The cockpit will get wide-angle heads up display and panoramic display panels. The Su-57 is a stealth, single-seat, twin-engine multirole fifth-generation jets fighter.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea decided to replace its aging M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) with the indigenous Anti-Aircraft Gun Wheeled vehicle system (AAGW) from Hanwha Defense. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the contract awarded is worth $200 million. The AAGW uses the same turret of the tracked K30 Biho and has a 1.6x longer range than the existing Vulcan guns, Hanwha said.
Northrop Grumman won a $333.4 million contract modification, which exercises options for the production and delivery of three low-rate initial production MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft, two main operating bases and one forward operating base in an integrated functional capability-four and multiple-intelligence configuration, with associated export compliance support for the government of Australia. Northrop Grumman had announced June 19 the Australian government’s decision to provide funding for an additional three of their planned six MQ-4C Tritons and associated ground mission control stations. The MQ-4C Triton is a cooperative development program between the Royal Australian Air Force and the US Navy. Operating at altitudes exceeding 50,000 feet, Triton can cover more than 2 million square miles of ocean and littorals in a single flight, bringing unprecedented awareness to operational commanders’ common operating pictures. Work will take place in California, Texas, Maryland, Utah, West Virginia, Mississippi, Indiana and North Dakota. Estimated completion will be by April 2025.
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System Dynamics International won a $28.7 million contract for MQ-9 unmanned aerial system aircrew and support services. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily against dynamic execution targets and secondarily as an intelligence collection asset. Work will take place in California and Arizona. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2025.
The US Navy received its first fleet CMV-22B Osprey, a tilt-wing helicopter redesigned for use on aircraft carriers. Designed and built by Bell Textron Inc. and Boeing Co., it was delivered at Naval Air Station North Island, California, on Monday. Two prior CMV-22Bs were delivered to the Navy, in February and in May, for developmental testing. The variant of the Navy’s V-22 aircraft will take over the Carrier Onboard Delivery Mission, replacing the C-2A Greyhound, in use since 1964. It is a tiltrotor V/STOL aircraft that can take off and land as a helicopter, as well as transit as a turboprop aircraft.
Middle East & Africa
Burkina Faso’s security forces said that they had destroyed two jihadist bases in the north and east of the country and arrested two suspects near the border with the Ivory Coast. According to media reports, a gendarmerie unit on Saturday “dismantled a terrorist base” near the eastern town of Tanwalbougou. In a separate operation in the north of the country, Burkinabe troops in the five-nation G5 Sabel Force, supported by a company of soldiers from Niger, destroyed a terrorist base on Saturday in a drilling zone 40 kilometers from Oursi, it said. Eight motorbikes, phones, and other equipment were seized.
Europe
Sweden has completed the test-firing trials of the RBS 98 air defense missile system and only a minor software modification is required before it enters service. Using the Bv 410 as the platform, the system employs the IRIS-T heat-seeking missile. The first firing test was carried out at Vidsel on November 5, 2019. The RBS98 Robotsystem 98 is designed to protect soldiers and infrastructure against aerial threats as missile, aircraft and helicopters. Sweden is the first country to benefit from the open system design of the newly developed GBAD family IRIS-T SLM/SLS, combining and integrating system elements (sensors/radars, command and control systems, communications systems) from various manufacturers into a single powerful weapon system.
The United Kingdom may not upgrade all of its early model Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning combat aircraft to the latest Block 4 standard later this decade, declaring it will decide numbers based on ‘military capability requirements’. Answering a question in the House of Commons Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Jeremy Quin, said that, while the international Block 4 (full combat) upgrade has been costed into the UK’s procurement programme, the precise numbers of already-delivered jets to go through the retrofit process have not yet been decided.
Asia-Pacific
The USS Gabrielle Giffords joined two ships of the Japan Self-Defense Force for bilateral exercises in the South China Sea. The Kashima class training vessel JS Kashima and the Shimayuki Class training vessel JS Shimayuki of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force joined the US Navy’s Independence Class littoral combat ship on Tuesday. The purpose of the exercise, the Navy said, was to “practice and enhance bilateral interoperability between the two navies and to emphasize the importance of communications and coordination.”
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Lockheed Martin won a $22.4 million contract modification, which exercises options to procure 12 retrofit advanced radar processor systems for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has a new radar system, theater missile defense capabilities, multi-sensor integration and a Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems tactical glass cockpit. Work will take place Liverpool, New York and Andover, Massachusetts. Estimated completion date is in November 2023.
The USS Nitze sailed into contested waters off the coast of Venezuela Tuesday in what the Navy describes as a “freedom of navigation operation” contesting “an excessive maritime claim” by Venezuela. The Arleigh Burke Class guided missile destroyer conducted the operation outside of Venezuela’s 12-nautical-mile territorial jurisdiction, an area the Maduro regime claims control over. “The US Navy routinely conducts freedom of navigation operations around the world to preserve the maritime navigation and access rights guaranteed to all nations and vital to the global mobility of US forces,” said the Navy’s press release on the operation.
Middle East & Africa
Advanced Electronics won a $12.4 million modification, which provides for implementation and delivery of end-user training for the CPS for two years. The scope of this contract effort will include custom contractor-developed training and original equipment manufacturer training. This is a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) acquisition between the US government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This FMS 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 F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter aircraft designed to outperform and outfight enemy aircraft obtaining air supremacy for the US Air Force. The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15SA is an advanced fighter jet aircraft version of the F-15E Strike Eagle featuring state-of-the-art sensors and a wide range of guided and smart munitions.
Europe
The United Kingdom has renewed for a further five years its Graphical Electronic Cockpit Organizer (GECO) Mission Support System (GECO MSS) contract for the Royal Air Force (RAF’s) Puma Force. This contract extension with Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) will see RAF Benson’s 33 and 230 squadrons equipped with the system until 2025, with the Westland-Aerospatiale SA 330E Puma HC2 fleet using GECO MSS on all flying operations in the UK and internationally. GECO Air, as the system is known in its airborne configuration, is designed to complement an aircraft’s existing onboard avionics systems by bringing commercial off-the-shelf hardware technology to the cockpit.
Asia-Pacific
Boeing won an $8.5 million deal for the Japan Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) mission computing upgrade (MCU) installation and checkout (I&CO) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out). The contract modification is to upgrade its fleet of four aircraft with the ADS-B Out capability. ADS-B Out is a software and hardware update to the Raytheon APX-119 transponder that includes the addition of a Global Positioning System (GPS) card. Under the E-767 AWACS I&CO program, the GPS card is to be installed within the four aircraft and updating the three ground support facilities. Work will take place in Oklahoma, Texas, and Japan. Expected completion date is December 23, 2023.
The final satellite required to complete global coverage of China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system was launched on June 23 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 3B three-stage carrier rocket, achieving its intended orbit. The previous launch of a Long March 3B in April had ended in failure due to a malfunction of the rocket’s third stage. Moreover, the first launch of the Long March 7A, which has some commonality with the Long March 3B in its third stage, had also malfunctioned after launch on March 16.
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Latest updates[?]: The United Kingdom has renewed for a further five years its Graphical Electronic Cockpit Organizer (GECO) Mission Support System (GECO MSS) contract for the Royal Air Force (RAF’s) Puma Force. This contract extension with Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) will see RAF Benson’s 33 and 230 squadrons equipped with the system until 2025, with the Westland-Aerospatiale SA 330E Puma HC2 fleet using GECO MSS on all flying operations in the UK and internationally. GECO Air, as the system is known in its airborne configuration, is designed to complement an aircraft’s existing onboard avionics systems by bringing commercial off-the-shelf hardware technology to the cockpit.
Puma HC1
In 2006 Britain considered one of the most unusual public-private proposals ever seen. The question before the Ministry of Defense was how to replace Britain’s remaining H-3 Sea Kings, and its 34 AS330 Puma HC1 medium helicopters, all of which entered service during the 1960s and 1970s. Eventually, Britain formally abandoned its public-private partnership proposal in favor of an upgrade contract for its old AS330 Pumas, which narrowly survived cancellation.
General Atomics won a $26.9 million deal that procures two MQ-9A Reaper unmanned air systems (UAS); one dual control mobile ground control station; one modular data center; and one mobile ground control station for Group 5 UAS intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services/persistent strike efforts. The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle used for surveillance and strike operations. The Reaper is a battle-proven development of the RQ-1 Predator, upgraded for longer endurance, a heavier payload, and the ability to launch heavier precision munitions in a benign aerial environment. The Marine Corps selected the Reaper in 2018 to fill an urgent needs request for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in support of forward operations in Southwest Asia. Work will take place in Yuma, Arizona as well as various locations outside the continental US. Estimated completion will be by December 2020.
The Navy awarded Boeing a $12.5 million order, which procures non-recurring engineering in support of establishing a functional configuration baseline in support of the production and delivery of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out) A-kits and B-kits for the T-45 Training System. The deal provides for the procurement of B-kits, to include air data computers and A-kits, which consist of associated wiring, splitters and filters and spares. This order also provides kit integration, follow-on analysis and engineering in support of issues that may arise during kit production and installation. The T-45A/C Goshawk is the US Navy’s two-seat advanced jet trainer. The aircraft is jointly manufactured by Boeing and BAE Systems. Work will take place in St. Louis, Missouri and Mesa, Arizona as well as various locations within the continental US. Estimated completion will be by January 2023.
Middle East & Africa
Israel’s Elbit Systems announced that it was awarded a contract valued at approximately $38 million from the Israeli Ministry of Defense to provide operation, maintenance and logistic services for the Textron T-6 trainer aircraft fleet of the Israeli Air Force. This contract award follows a decade during which Elbit Systems has provided the IAF with operation and maintenance services for the T-6 fleet, meeting the IAF’s standards of service, availability and flight safety. The contract will be executed over a five-year period, with an option for an additional five-year period.
Europe
Oshkosh Defense won a $10.6 million contract for field service representatives to provide maintenance to Joint Light Tactical Vehicles during an exercise being conducted by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense. A JLTV trailer can accommodate more than 5K pounds of payload, travel at a speed of up to 70 miles per hour and operate with older Army ground vehicles such as Humvees. The platform also features an anti-lock braking system. Work will take place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Estimated completion date is January 31, 2023.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea will start operating its three RQ-4 unmanned air vehicles from as early as next month, Yonhap reports. “We are going to field Global Hawk for actual operations within the second half of this year. They will be put into service after the one remaining unit arrives here, which will take place soon,” an anonymous source was quoted as saying. South Korea was cleared to buy 4 RQ-4s in 2013. The first aircraft was delivered in December 2019. So far, it has been making local training flights.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) carrier strike groups commenced dual carrier flight operations in the Philippine Sea on June 21. The ships and aircraft assigned to both strike groups began coordinated operations in international waters demonstrating the United States’ unique capability to operate multiple carrier strike groups in close proximity. While at sea, the strike groups will support air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long-range strikes, coordinated maneuvers and other exercises. “This is a great opportunity for us to train together in a complex scenario,” said Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9. “By working together in this environment, we’re improving our tactical skills and readiness in the face of an increasingly pressurized region and COVID-19.”
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Northrop Grumman won an $18.7 million contract for active electronically scanned array radars of Air Force F-16 aircraft. The contract modification is for definitization of the Radio Frequency Target Generator, additional support equipment and software development to support Phase Two. The F-16 Fighting Falcon has been the mainstay of the Air Force aerial combat fleet. With over 1,000 F-16s in service, the platform has been adapted to complete a number of missions, including air-to-air fighting, ground attack and electronic warfare. Work will take place in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. Estimated completion will bet by April 2023.
General Electric won a $37.1 million contract for support of the T700 series engine program. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. The General Electric T700 and CT7 are a family of turboshaft and turboprop engines in the 1,500–3,000 shp (1,100–2,200 kW) class. The T700 turboshaft engines can be found on 15 different types of rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft, including the Sikorsky Black Hawk, the Boeing AH-64 Apache, as well as the Bell UH-1Y Huey. Work location and funding will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2025.
Middle East & Africa
Despite its distance from Israel, Iran is the most dangerous country in the Middle East, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi said. “Iran has become the most dangerous country in the Middle East,” Kohavi says at a ceremony marking Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate, an entirely new position on the General Staff, which will focus principally on Israel’s fight against Iran. “It’s made significant progress with its nuclear program, but the nuclear [threat] is no longer the only threat. Iran also possesses conventional weapons,” Kochavi said, adding that while “it is located in the third circle, but is highly effective in influencing the first and second circle,” he said referring to financing terror groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.
Europe
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced that the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) has been delivered from Norway. Lithuania signed a contract for two National Advanced Surface-to-Air System (NASAMS) air defense missile batteries on October 26, 2017. The $127 million contract includes training and a logistical maintenance package. Airmen from the Lithuanian Air Force started testing the NASAMS at the Kongsberg factory in Norway in October 2019.
Asia-Pacific
An executive from Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) marketing department told reporters that the aerospace company is in talks with the Philippines on the purchase of KT-1 basic trainer. KAI had organized a promotional event held in Sacheon on June 17 whereby diplomats from the 16 countries attended. The focus of the event was to promote the KUH-1 helicopter.
Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has recently tested its Wing Loong-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as a communications base station for use during disasters. The aircraft was installed with communication equipment for support mobile signals and flown up to an altitude of 16,000 ft. The signal coverage was over 50 square km, a domestic record for an airborne base station. AVIC says when paired with satellite communication (SATCOM) equipment, the platform is capable of providing space-air-ground emergency communication support during disasters for up to 35 hours.
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Latest updates[?]: General Electric won a $37.1 million contract for support of the T700 series engine program. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. The General Electric T700 and CT7 are a family of turboshaft and turboprop engines in the 1,500–3,000 shp (1,100–2,200 kW) class. The T700 turboshaft engines can be found on 15 different types of rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft, including the Sikorsky Black Hawk, the Boeing AH-64 Apache, as well as the Bell UH-1Y Huey. Work location and funding will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2025.
T700 engine
GE’s T700 family powers a number of helicopters, from Army UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters to the USAF’s HH-60 Pave Hawks, naval SH/MH-60 Seahawks, and even the US Marines’ H-1 Hueys and AH-1 Cobras.
In 2004, the US military placed a multi-year production contract to cover engines and spares for its H-60 family helicopters, covering up to 1,200 engines. That contract has now been extended to cover up to 4,900 T700-401C (Coast Guard HH-60J, Navy SH-60/MH-60 Seahawks), T700-701D (UH-60A/L/ early-build M), and T700-701E (new UH-60M) engines for the US Army and Navy through 2014. Each helicopter requires 2 engines…
Lockheed Martin won a $25.1 million contract modification to exercise an option for Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) efforts for the design, development, integration, test and delivery of Advanced Capability Build 20. The Aegis CSEA is responsible for combat system engineering services, including the design, development and life cycle support, for all AEGIS-equipped ships. The deal also includes a replacement or upgrade of combat system computing hardware and associated middleware/firmware. The design development and develops engineering products support ship integration, developmental test and operational test events, develops training and logistics products and provides field technical support for designated Aegis baselines. The systems engineering, development and integration work under this contract begins with ACB 16 and TI 16, and continues with a future ACB/TI through the period of performance of the contract. Work will take place in Moorestown, New Jersey. Work is expected to be complete by December 2020.
The Pentagon’s strategy for defense in space treats the environment as a warfighting domain, a Defense Department report says. The Defense Space Strategy calls for maintenance of space superiority, support to national, joint and combined operations on earth,and assurance of space stability, the Pentagon said this week. The report identified what officials call four priority lines of effort: building a comprehensive military advantage in space; integration of power in space into the military; shaping the strategic environment; and cooperation with allies, partners, and other US government departments and agencies.
Middle East & Africa
Raytheon won a $29.2 million contract for procurement of Jordan’s Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System. According to the company, the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) is the Fire Support Command and Control (C2) system employed by the US Army and US Marine Corps units to provide automated support for planning, coordinating, controlling and executing fires and effects. AFATDS prioritizes targets received from various sensors and performs attack analysis using situational data combined with commander’s guidance. Work will take place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with an estimated completion date of October 31, 2024.
BAE Systems won an $18.8 million contract modification for the fiscal 2017-2020 production of the MK 38 MOD 3 machine gun system (MGS) and associated spares. The production of the MGS is derived from the application of an ordnance alteration to the MK 38 MOD 1 25mm MGS. Once installed, this version will incorporate two-axis stabilizations, an improved electro-optical sight system, improved multi-function display, a modified main control panel, a new main computing unit, a 7.62mm machine gun and remote control operation. The Mk 38 MGS is a low cost, stabilized self-defense weapon system that dramatically improves ships’ self-defense capabilities in all weather conditions, day or night. Installed aboard 14 different classes of US Navy ships and US Coast Guard cutters, it is used extensively by the US military as well as by NATO forces. Work will take place in Haifa, Israel and Louisville, Kentucky. Estimated completion date will be by November 2021.
Europe
The German Bundestag approved funding to develop, build, and integrate a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system for the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter combat aircraft fleet. The approval by the Bundestag’s Budget Committee will see national sensor-house Hensoldt lead the effort to equip the Luftwaffe’s 79 Tranche 2 and 31 Tranche 3A Eurofighters with an updated AESA (also known as electronically scanned [E-Scan]) radar system. The Eurofighter consortium that comprises Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK is already developing an AESA/E-Scan radar through the Euroradar consortium. This effort, led by Leonardo UK, builds on the aircraft’s existing Captor mechanically scanned (M-Scan) radar, and is known as Captor E-Scan and/or Captor AESA (CAESAR).
Asia-Pacific
A foreign submarine, believed to be from China, was discovered near Amami Oshima Island, Japan on June 18. This prompted Japan to dispatch JS Kaga, a helicopter destroyer carrying anti-submarine warfare helicopters and P-1 aircraft to the area to monitor the underwater vessel. The submarine was observed west of Yokoate Island on June 20 and it passed through a narrow strip of waters between Tokara island chain and Amami Oshima.
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Lockheed Martin won a $16 million contract modification, which procures support to manage diminishing manufacturing sources in support of the F-35 Program for the Air Force, Navy and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft. In a recent statement from Lockheed, the defense and aerospace company announced plans to whittle back the number of jets produced this year, as well as a temporary restructuring of their workforce. The company said that it will likely miss its production targets this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Originally, Lockheed Martin had planned to produce 141 of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter across the year. Work under the current modification will take place in Fort Worth, Texas. Estimated completion will be by June 2021.
The US State Department approved a possible FMS to Canada of 50 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II tactical missiles and related equipment for $862.3 million. The deal also includes 50 AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles, 10 Special Air Training Missiles, 10 Tactical Guidance Units, 10 Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II CATM Guidance Units; 38 APG-79(V)4 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar units; 38 APG-79(V)4 AESA Radar A1 kits; 20 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C, AGM-154C; 46 F/A-18A Wide Band RADOMEs. Until the Royal Canadian Air Force makes a decision on its next-generation fighter aircraft, it will have to rely on its ageing fleet of classic Boeing F/A-18A Hornets; a type known in Canada as the CF-18. To keep those fighters relevant for air-to-air combat, Ottawa had requested to buy 50 examples of the Raytheon AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missile. Canada is hosting the Future Fighter Capability Project to pick an advanced type to replace its CF-18 Hornets. The country wants to buy 88 fighters. Boeing is offering the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin the F-35, and Saab the Gripen E.
Middle East & Africa
Urban Aeronautics inked a VTOL Fuel Cell Deal with HyPoint. Under the agreement, next-generation hydrogen fuel cells are to be integrated into the Israeli company’s vertical takeoff and landing systems. Urban Aeronautics, which is pioneering the next generation of eVTOL aircraft for commercial air taxi and air rescue roles, and HyPoint, a leader in next generation, high power hydrogen fuel cell systems, will explore the development of an advanced version of Urban Aeronautics’ CityHawk eVTOL powered by HyPoint’s cutting-edge, hydrogen fuel cell stack technology. As currently designed, CityHawk relies on hybrid propulsion. CityHawk is a six-seat eVTOL, with a uniquely compact footprint and no external wings or rotors. Its small footprint/high payload configuration is optimized for urban transportation and emergency response.
Europe
The DoS approved a Foreign Military Sale of up to 16 armed patrol boats to the Ukrainian military at an estimated cost of $600 million. The Government of Ukraine had requested to buy up to 16 Mark VI Patrol Boats; 32 MSI Seahawk A2 gun systems; 20 Electro-Optics-Infrared Radar (FLIR) (16 installed and 4 spares); 16 Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) 5km loudspeaker systems; 16 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems; 40 MK44 cannons; communication equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics support.
Russia is phasing out its Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) which has Ukrainian parts and will replace them with ones made by Electroautomatics Experimental Design Bureau. Electroautomatics First Deputy CEO Anatoly Shukalov says fighters from Sukhoi had their HMDs already swapped out and the MiGs will get new HMDs next year. He added that only the algorithms need to be develop to integrate with the aircraft’s fire control system.
Asia-Pacific
KAI Vice President and General Manager Lee Bong-keun told reporters on June 17 that his company is stepping up efforts to sell the KUH-1 helicopter to Indonesia. He was speaking at a promotional event held in Sacheon whereby diplomats from the 16 countries attended. The focus of the event was to promote the KUH-1. The first secretary of the Indonesian Embassy in Korea told reporters Jakarta will evaluate KAI’s proposal. Bangladeshi ambassador to Korea says his country is considering to buy the KT-1.
Today’s Video
Watch: Breaking News: US Naval Buildup In Indo-Pacific Seen as Warning To China
