General Atomics To Design And Develop Unmanned OBSS | Nigerian Army Received 60 New Armored Vehicles | UK Expands Surveillance Aircraft Fleet

Americas

The USAF Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded General Atomics $18 million to design and develop an unmanned Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) aircraft. AFRL is developing an open architecture concept Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) to achieve its goals of rapid time-to-market and low acquisition cost, while extending and enhancing the sensing volume of manned platforms.

Sentry View Systems won a $63 million deal for the Minuteman III Remote Visual Assessment Contractor Logistical Support 2.0. The LGM-30 Minuteman III, built by Boeing, is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is a long-range, solid-fuel, three-stage ICBM with the capability to carry single or multiple nuclear warheads. Work will take place in Utah, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. Estimated completion date is November 3, 2026.

Middle East & Africa

The Nigerian Army revealed that it has received 60 tracked armoured personnel carriers from China when it invited television journalists to a commissioning ceremony at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI) in Jaji on October 28. Speaking during the commissioning of the new armoured tanks at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji Kaduna State, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya said the deployment of new platforms to the battlefield underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that a state of normalcy is achieved across the country.

Europe

Both Estonian and Finnish air forces are investigating an Estonian L-39’s intrusion into Finnish airspace on November 1. The following day, the Estonian Defense Forces issued a statement saying that: “Due to human error, two Estonian Air Force L-39 jet trainers turned towards Finnish airspace south of Utö Island yesterday at 14.02 local time. The incident occurred over international waters, when planes were taking part in a training exercise with an allied warship. The violation of the airspace lasted for less than a minute.”

The UK Shadow surveillance aircraft fleet fleet will be expanded from 6 to 8 aircraft and upgraded to include new defensive systems. As part of a £150.3 million contract with Raytheon UK, the latest Defensive Aids Systems will also be installed across the fleet of 8 aircraft, increasing its ability to defend itself and operate in unfriendly airspace.

Asia-Pacific

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration will soon sign a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI) to convert four Dassault Falcon 2000LXS business jets into Baekdu-class intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. The contract is worth around $747 million and KAI will be the lead system integrator while LIG Nex1 will supply the mission equipment.

Today’s Video

Watch: Learn How To Fly The L-39 Tactical Jet Trainer