GE Tapped For Super Hornet Engine Support | Leonardo Hacked By Employees | Airbus Started Updating Hungarian H145ms

Americas

General Electric won a $220 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure 48 F414-GE-400 engines and engine devices in support of the F/A-18 Super Hornet production aircraft for the Navy. The General Electric F414 is an American afterburning turbofan engine in the 22,000-pound thrust class. Two F414 engines power the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. The US Navy F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet maritime strike attack aircraft was manufactured by Boeing, and flew for the first time in 1995. The air inlets have been enlarged to provide increased airflow into the engines. The structural changes to the airframe on the F/E variant of the aircraft increase the internal fuel capacity by 3,600lb, a 33% higher fuel capacity than the F-18C/D variant. Work will take place in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Kentucky. Estimated completion will be in August 2023.

Northrop Grumman won a $13.1 million order, which procures 39 avionic flight mission computers, 10 control display units and one environmental stress screening station in support of E-2D aircraft. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness. The E-2D continues the Navy’s integrated war fighting legacy by providing broad area coverage resulting in broader range capabilities. With the E-2D’s enhanced ability to work in the littoral and over land, the platform provides a critical capability to protect our nation’s interests. Work will take place in California and Florida. Estimated completion is in November 2024.

Middle East & Africa

The guided-missile submarine USS Georgia passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the US Naval Forces Central Command said in a rare disclosure. The submarine, which can carry up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, was escorted by the guided missile cruisers USS Port Royal and USS Philippine Sea through the strait as it entered the Persian Gulf. The US military rarely announces the movements of its submarines, and the disclosure comes as US officials are on alert for heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Europe

Two people working for Italian defense contractor Leonardo had installed malware on the company’s computers and stole at least 10 gigabytes of data between 2015 and 2017. Reuters say 94 computers were hacked, 33 were at the Pomigliano plant. Files stolen includes information on the electronic system of the nEUROn, C-27J cargo plane and ATR commercial and military turbo-prop planes.

Airbus Helicopters has begun upgrading Hungary’s eventual fleet of 20 H145M rotorcraft with the company’s HForce Generic Weapon System (GWS). The company announced that three of the 16 helicopters so far delivered under the Eastern European nation’s Zrínyi 2026 military development programme have been retrofitted with the HForce GWS. The H145M joined the fleet of the Hungarian Air Force one year ago. A couple of days ago it was reported that the Hungarian Air Force had taken delivery of 16 H145M helicopters that it ordered. A total of twenty helicopters were ordered.

Asia-Pacific

Four Chinese bombers and 15 Russian military aircraft carried out a joint air patrol on Decemver 22. Japan and South Korea scrambled fighter jets to keep track of those warplanes. Four Chinese military aircraft and 15 Russian planes entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone. According to Korea’s joint chiefs, the Chinese planes flew into the KADIZ from the west, with two out of the four planes passing through an area east of Ulleungdo, a South Korean island.

Today’s Video

Watch: FLOW – The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Enhancement: Refuel in Air