Lockheed Wins Apache Night Vision Sensor Contract | Elbit To Supply SPECTRO XR To Asian Country | P-8A Fired Harpoon Missiles

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $49.5 million deal for the AH-64 Apache Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor performance-based logistics program. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. The Apache is a twin-engined army attack helicopter. The US Army has more than 800 Apaches in service, and more than 1,000 have been exported. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2025.

In a report, the Defense Department cites 23 civilians killed, and 10 injured, during US military action in 2020. The unclassified, 21-page “Annual Report on Civilian Casualties in Connection with United States Military Operations” is a requirement by Congress that includes explanations that avoiding harm to civilians “is the moral and ethical thing to do.” The report defines theaters of active armed combat, and limits them, for 2020, to action in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Nigeria.

Middle East & Africa

Elbit Systems won a contract worth $80 million to supply electro-optic systems integrated with artificial intelligence to the maritime forces of a country in the Asia-Pacific region. The contract will be performed over a period of four years. Under the contract, Elbit Systems will supply SPECTRO XR EO systems that will be integrated onboard a variety of maritime platforms. SPECTRO XR is a multi-spectral long-range EO system that provides naval, air and land forces with enhanced intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (“ISTAR”) capabilities, in both day and night and under low visibility conditions, such as fog, humidity, smoke, haze and dust.

Europe

Three Boeing P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft for the first time fired AGM-84D Harpoon missiles during a NATO’s three week-long At-Sea Demo/ Formidable Shield 2021 exercise. Patrol Squadron FOUR (VP-4) successfully conducted a coordinated missile launch with VP-40 using two Air-to-Surface Missile (AGM-84D) Harpoons against a target barge off the coast of Norway on May 31, the Navy said.

South Korea’s Hanwha Defense has offered a new variant of the K9 self-propelled howitzer to the British Army under the Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme. A Request for Proposal for MFP is due to be released in 2022. The K9A2 development has been led by Hanwha Defense and the state-funded Agency for Defense Development.

Asia-Pacific

Rheinmetall delivered first 25 Boxer 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) to the Australian Army under the $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability project. Rheinmetall will deliver a total of 211 Boxer 8×8 Vehicles in different versions, 131 will be the CRV variant. They will replace the Army’s Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) under LAND 400 Phase 2. Delivery of the first 25 vehicles enables Army to continue towards Initial Operating Capability on schedule as Rheinmetall moves into the next phase of the LAND 400 Phase 2 program.

Today’s Video

Watch: America’s AH-64 Apache vs Russia’s KA-52 Alligator

USS Paul Ignatius Fires SM-3 interceptors | IAI Inks Heron Services Inks Contract with Asian Country | Apache Ground Crew Training

Americas

The USS Paul Ignatius fired two Standard Missile-3 interceptors at the end of May in order to engage ballistic missile targets launched from the Hebrides Guided Weapon Range off the west coast of Scotland, the Navy announced. The test was carried out as part of a cooperative engagement with the Royal Netherlands Navy, which used its advanced combat system suite to warn the maritime task group of a threat, allowing the Ignatius to fire missiles and negate it, officials said.

US B-52H Stratofortress aircraft flew over all 30 NATO allied nations in North America and Europe Monday. B-52s currently deployed to Morón Air Base, Spain, and US-based aircraft planned to fly with more than 20 NATO allies across two combatant commands, according to a press release issued by US European Command before the flight took place.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a $200 million contract to provide unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) services to a country in Asia. The services relate to IAI’s Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This is the fourth major UAS transaction that IAI has announced this year. Controlled remotely from sea frigates or the seashore, the Heron supports ground and maritime missions against submarines and coastal guards. It transmits information while at sea, including between all the weapon systems participating in a mission.

Europe

A UK Apache ground crew has been preparing for their latest deployment to Estonia. The Force was created as part of Future Soldier, the Army’s transformation plan. It will be ready to respond rapidly to any threat, anywhere in the world, including to deliver humanitarian support. The Task Force will support the Apache Helicopter Gunships, ensuring they are refuelled and rearmed ready to take on the enemy. The Wildcat helicopter is also part of the Task Force, and will be used together with the Apache to provide reconnaissance and attack elements.

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will conduct joint training at sea for the first time during exercise Gallic Strike. The exercise is lead by France and involves 14 warships and 56 aircraft. Both carrier groups will jointly conduct air strikes from the sea and defend against various threats.

Asia-Pacific

The Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) has issued a press statement saying that 16 People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft were intercepted off the coast of East Malaysia on May 31. The huge formation was detected by Air Defense Center (CRC 2) in Sarawak at 1153hrs local time.

Today’s Video

Watch: The AH-64 Apache Helicopter Monstrous Power & Capability

Israel Sells Heron UAVs to India, Leases to Germany Imminent, Signs contract with Vietnam

In November 2005, media reports claimed that India was set to purchase some 50 Heron MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) UAVs from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in a deal worth $220 million. They would be put to use carrying out reconnaissance missions on India’s mountainous borders with China and Pakistan, and along India’s long coastal waters. India was said to have been close to sealing the deal in 2004, but it was postponed due to the change in governments in New Delhi.

The Heron’s performance during the December 2004 tsunami apparently clinched the deal. Its performance since, and Chinese aggression on the Indian border, has green-lighted a follow-on contract.

Marines Practice Use Of Drone Buster | Turkey’s ULAQ Completed Missile Firing Tests | SCORPION For French DGA

Americas

Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) practice using the Drone Buster at an undisclosed location. This hand-held jammer has the ability to force a drone to descend or return to its operator.

The first Biden administration’s defense budget asks for $715 billion for fiscal 2022, including a $5.5 billion increase in research and development accounts and an $8 billion cut in procurement. This signals a new focus on new technologies at the expense of older programs.

Middle East & Africa

ULAQ Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (AUSV), developed by Turkish companies Meteksan Defense and ARES Shipyard, successfully completed missile firing tests during Turkish Navy’s Sea Wolf 2021 Naval Exercise. Two CIRIT Laser Guided Missiles fired from ULAQ AUSV and both of them successfully hit the target. The ULAQ AUSV firing ceremony, attended by senior officials from Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries, Ministry of Defense, Turkish Naval Forces Command and Coast Guard Command, was started with the speeches of ARES Shipyard CEO Utku Alanç and Meteksan Defence  President Selçuk Alparslan.

Europe

The French General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) received the first operational version of the combat information system for the SCORPION program (SICS) developed by French firm, Atos. Its deployment is planned before the summer following the success of the operational assessments of the Army. SICS is the unique information system of the Scorpion program, which enables the digital transformation of the Army’s contact combat capabilities. All the weapon systems that make up SCORPION are also fully connected; thanks to SICS, they natively share combat information.

Asia-Pacific

Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported on May 29 that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Army 80 Group Army recently demonstrated that its PHL-03 300 mm long-range multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) has the ability to strike maritime targets. According to the Global Times, the exercise was conducted at Bohai Bay.

South Korea’s Minister of National Defense Suh Wook told lawmakers that a KC-330 will head to the United States on June 2 to bring back the Johnson & Johnson (J&J)’s Janssen vaccines. US President Joe Biden had promise to provide one million doses so that the country’s military can be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The aircraft is expected to return back home on June 5.

Today’s Video

Watch: ULAQ S?DA successfully hit its target in the first shot

US Warship Fails To Intercept MRBM Target With SM-6 | Poland Inks Bayraktar TB2 Deal With Turkey | Singapore Started Taking Deliver Of CH-47Fs

Americas

The US Missile Defense Agency announced that the Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1 has failed. Two SM-6 missile interceptors were supposed to intercept a medium range ballistic missile target as the test object. The agency said “an intercept was not achieved.” It also failed to revealed the location of the test and the warship involved. A review to determine the cause of any problems has been initiated.

Despite a 2017 order for managing fatigue after several ship collisions, few Navy officers get adequate sleep, a Government Accountability Office report says. The 81-page report on Navy readiness was released on Thursday, and notes that only 14 percent of Navy officers get enough sleep.

Middle East & Africa

Raytheon won an $112.7 million modification to perform Navy transition to production efforts for RAM Block 2B and exercise options for fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Egypt for the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 guided-missile round pack (GMRP). This contract includes purchases to the government of Egypt under the FMS program. Work will take place in Arizona, Germany, Scotland, Canada and England. Estimated completion will be in December 2024.

Europe

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics won a $24.3 million contract, which provides non-recurring engineering and logistics and sustainment program support for F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft in support of the government of Poland. Work will take place in Texas, Florida, California, the UK and Maryland. Estimated completion will be in April 2024.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz B?aszczak signed a contract for 24 Bayraktar TB2 armed UAVs for the Polish Air Force with Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar in Ankara on May 24, in the presence of Polish President Andrzej Duda. Under the deal, Poland will receive four unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) with six UAVs with laser-guided MAM-L thermobaric and MAM–C high-explosive Smart Micro Munitions, as well as training munitions from Roketsan.

Asia-Pacific

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has started taking delivery of the CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters it ordered in November 2016, with the first example already being deployed at its training detachment in Australia. “The initial delivery of the CH-47F to the RSAF Helicopter Detachment in Oakey, Australia, will enable the RSAF to leverage the vast airspace and terrain for more realistic training,” said the service.

Today’s Video

Watch: How Bayraktar TB2 has become one of the most feared drones in the world