Lockheed Wins $206M For F-35 Support | HMS Cardiff Starting To Look Ship-Shape | China Revealed Drone-Turned Retro Fighters

Americas

Sikorsky won a $14.1 million contract modification to procure four retrofit kits and associated system engineering support for the incorporation of 34 deployable configuration changes into CH-53K System Demonstration Test Article 1-4 Aircraft. The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. Work will take place in Connecticut and Florida. Estimated completion is in November 2023.

Lockheed Martin won a $206.9 million modification, which adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering, detailed aircraft modification execution planning and technical data packages in support of modifications to the F-35 developmental test fleet aircraft. These modifications are necessary to support flight tests for the F-35 developmental test fleet and for the capabilities delivered under the F-35 Block 4 modernization in support of the Joint Strike Fighter Program for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will take place in Texas, Maryland and California. Estimated completion in December 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Aeronautics Group, an Israeli provider of integrated solutions based on unmanned system platforms, payloads and communications for defense and HLS applications, announced it had concluded a successful evaluation of its Orbiter system, operating from the Finnish Border Guard’s Turva offshore patrol vessel, demonstrating high capabilities in a marine environment.

Europe

According to George Allison from the UK Defence Journal, the HMS Cardiff, the second of eight Type 26 Frigates, is starting to look ship-shape in Glasgow. Each Type 26 will be equipped with a range of capabilities including the Sea-Ceptor missile defence system, a 5-inch medium calibre gun, an embarked helicopter, medium range radar, powerful bow and towed array sonars, helicopter-launched torpedoes and a design which makes them extremely difficult for enemy submarines to detect.

Asia-Pacific

Rheinmetall has submitted the company’s Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) best and final offer for the Australian Department of Defence Land 400 Phase 3 Mounted Close Combat Capability tender. Rheinmetall is one of two competing companies involved in the tender for this procurement project. Lynx is fitted with the Rheinmetall Lance turret for precise and lethal effects and offers an integrated battle management system. Designed for close combat operations, the extensive family of Lynx vehicles is modular.

According to Defense News, China unveiled its first retired fighter in the 1950s and converted it into an unmanned drone. Satellite images of two East Coast bases near Taiwan show a large number of jets.The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command posted photos of two Shenyang J-6s on its Weibo social media account during a post about a ceremony commemorating the start of the training brigade’s training cycle in late 2021.

Today’s Video

Watch: From HMS Glasgow to HMS Cardiff – The shipbuilding team at BAE Systems