Raytheon To Repair APY-10 Items On Poseidon | UK-Omani Ship Repair Facility Completes HMS Montrose Work | Elbit UK Secures Deal For Navy Training Solutions

Americas

Raytheon won a $7.8 million delivery order for the repair of 10 line items associated with the APY-10 radar system used in support of the P-8A aircraft. The AN/APY-10 is integrated into the Boeing mission control and display system aboard the Poseidon for control, display and data distribution. The radar also will provide ultra-high-resolution imaging modes for maritime and overland operations. The radar fits in the nose of the Poseidon. Work will take place in Florida and Texas. Estimated completion will be by May 2023.

According to the US Navy, an at-sea experiment with emerging technologies brought over 100 scientists and military personnel together in California on January 8. Sponsored by the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, Trident Warrior 2020 was a five-month execution of 24 technology experiments meant to “put emerging technologies into the hands of the warfighter for evaluation in an operational environment,” it said in a statement. The biannual meeting was conducted aboard Navy ships and on-shore facilities in Southern California, with some experiments practiced in the Navy’s Hawaiian operating area. The project concluded in November but was announced by NAVWAR on Friday, in advance of a final report scheduled for release this month.

Middle East & Africa

According to US Central Command, the flight of two B-52 bombers from the US to the Middle East is the fourth such show of force in the past 60 days. “The aircrews flew a 36-hour, non-stop mission from the 5th Bomb Wing’s home at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to the Arabian Gulf and back to send a clear deterrent message by displaying the ability to deploy overwhelming combat power on short notice,” it said. The planes were escorted, part of the way, by F-15 fighter planes of the Royal Saudi Air Force. The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can at altitudes of 50,000 feet, has an unrefueled combat range in excess of 8,800 miles and carries precision guided ordnance with worldwide precision navigation.

Europe

Duqm Naval Dockyard, the Joint Venture between Babcock International and the Oman Drydock Company, has successfully completed a four week fleet time support programme (FTSP) for the UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose. HMS Montrose is currently carrying out duties patrolling the Gulf, keeping the shipping lanes safe and ensuring that international trade is not threatened. The ship is being based out in the Gulf for the upcoming years and works on a watch rotation basis. Every 4 months the port and starboard crew rotate. The Starboard crew of HMS Montrose is made up from sailors from HMS Monmouth.

Israel’s Elbit Systems announced that its subsidiary, Elbit Systems UK, was awarded a contract valued at approximately $166 million (approximately £123 million) from the UK Ministry of Defence for the Royal Navy Future Naval Training Program as part of the Fisher consortium led by British company Capita. The contract will be performed over a 12-year period. The program calls for the transformation and modernization of the shore-based training of the Royal Navy including the establishment of the Future Submarine School. As the provider and integrator of training solutions for the consortium, Elbit Systems UK will develop and deliver a new Combat Systems Operator Trainer in the Future Submarine School and modernize and manage legacy synthetic training systems across the Royal Navy

Asia-Pacific

India is reportedly close to signing the contracts to buy 56 C295 transport aircraft from Airbus and 83 LCA fighters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Airbus will partner with Tata Advanced Systems Limited to deliver the aircraft to the Indian Air Force. The deal could possibly be concluded at the Aero India 2021 in February, a defense official said.

Today’s Video

Watch: New Airbus C295 Aircraft 2020 Walkaround Tour

Up to $11.9B for B-52H Maintenance & Modernization

Officially, it’s the B-52H Stratofortress. Unofficially, it’s the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat F–cker). Either way, this subsonic heavy bomber remains the mainstay of the U.S. strategic fleet after more than 50 years of service. A total of 102 B-52H bombers were delivered from FY 1961-1963, and 94 were still on the books as of May 2009, flying mostly from Barksdale AFB, LA and Minot AFB, ND. Of these, 18 are slated for retirement, leaving a planned fleet of 76. By the time that fleet retires in the 2030s, many will be around 70 years old.

The B-52H can’t be flown against heavy enemy air defenses, but a steady array of upgrades have kept the aircraft relevant to follow-on strikes and current wars, where its long time on station and precision weapons have made the BUFF beautiful. Those changes have included advanced communications, GPS guided weapons, advanced targeting pods, and more. The USAF isn’t done yet adding new features, and maintenance remains a challenge for an aircraft fleet that’s always older than its pilots. All of these things require contracts, and the B-52H fleet has several of them underway. So, how does 2010’s 8-year, $11.9 billion umbrella contract fit in…?

• CONECT, ESP, SWING: How Does This One Fit In?
  
• Contracts & Key Events
  
• Additional Readings