Sikorsky To Overhaul Army’s Black Hawk Main Rotor Blade | Turkey To Showcase Cagatay Drone | Spanish Civil Guard Seeks To Buy Assault Rifles

Americas

Sikorsky won a $116.5 million deal for maintenance and overhaul of the Black Hawk main rotor blade. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. The UH-60 Black Hawk, developed by Sikorsky, has been operational in the US Army since 1978. In April 2001, the US Army approved an upgrade programme for more than 1,500 Black Hawks to UH-60M. The UH-60M features new wide chord composite spar main rotor blades, strengthened fuselage and advanced infrared suppression. Estimated completion date for this contract is August 15, 2026.

Integral Aerospace won a $10 million contract for the repair of two parts associated with the 650 gallon fuel tanks in support of the CH-53 aircraft. All work will be performed in Santa Ana, California, and the ordering period is expected to be completed by August 2026. The CH-52 Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter. The marine corps uses the Super Stallion in the amphibious assault role and for transporting heavy equipment. The US Navy also use the Super Stallion for vertical delivery and recovery of damaged aircraft on aircraft carriers.

Middle East & Africa

Turkish UAV manufacturer UAVERA will showcase its new Cagatay VTOL UAV at the 15th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2021 being held in Istanbul TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center between August 17 and August 20. The Cagatay VTOL UAV is a sub-cloud UAV (BIHA) class with 6 hours of flight time and a communication range of up to 150 kilometers. The UAV also is equipped with satellite control, feel-and-avoid, anti-collision, and swarm capabilities.

Europe

The Spanish Civil Guard has issued a tender for the supply of a minimum of 3,500 5.56x45mm caliber assault rifles worth about six million euros. Infodefensa reported that the tender also includes the supply of rifle holders, cases with cleaning tools, facemasks, user manuals and 10,500 magazines, with delivery of the rifles and the other items during 2022 and 2023.

Asia-Pacific

Japan’s first KC-46A recently refueled another KC-46A over the state of Washington. “Refueling with the first Japan KC-46A is an important milestone for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force,” Jamie Burgess, KC-46 program manager, said in a statement from Boeing. Japan is the first non-US KC-46A customer, and is scheduled to receive its first tanker later this year.

According to Jane’s, South Korean firm LIG Nex1 announced in late July the completion of sea trials of its Haegum-3 (Sea Sword 3) unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The development work was carried out under the umbrella of a two-year public-private joint venture, called ‘The Coastal Security and the Rapid Response Unmanned Surface Vehicle Civil-Military Technology Commercialization Support Program’, between 2019 and 2021.

Today’s Video

Watch: CH-53K King Stallion Takes Flight at MCAS New River