New Virginia Class Sub Delivered To USN | Latvia Interested In Turkish Drones | Germany To Buy F-35

Americas

The US Navy took delivery of the newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine Montana (SSN 794) on Monday. Montana (SSN 794) completed sea trials last month. It is the third of the 10-ship group of Virginia-class submarines known as Block IV. Virginia-class submarines displace 7,835 tons, with a hull length of 377 feet and a diameter of 34 feet. They are capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots and can dive to a depth greater than 800 feet, while carrying Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Overhaul Support Services LLC won two contracts in support of the CH-47 Chinook. swashplates. A $15.8 million deal ist to overhaul aft control swashplates for the helicopter. A $12.5 million contract provides the overhaul of forward control swashplates. Estimated completion date is March 13, 2027. The CH-47 Chinook helicopter transports troops, artillery, supplies and equipment to the battlefield with other applications ranging from medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, parachute drop, search and rescue to disaster relief, firefighting and heavy construction.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Shipyards, which manufactures vessels, announced Sunday that it has won an agreement to supply two vessels and various services to a government customer in Africa. The value of the deal, in which Israel Shipyards will supply the vessels over a period of about 22 months, is about 10.7 million euros. The company does not specify the model of the vessel, but Israel Defense has learned it is a new model made by Israel Shipyards that is being sold for the first time.

Europe

Latvian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Artis Pabriks has confirmed the country’s interest in buying Bayraktar TB2 combat drones from Turkey, which have been used on battlefields in Syria, Libya, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Iraq; and now in Ukraine. In an interview with Nikkei Asia on March 12, Pabriks said Latvia “is interested in acquiring from Turkey the kind of armed drones Ukraine’s military has been using against invading Russian forces.”

Germany will buy up to 35 copies of the F-35 fighter jet, reversing years-long plans that saw the fifth-generation warplane eliminated from consideration, defense leaders announced Monday. The planes will take over by 2030 the nuclear-weapons mission from the aging fleet of Tornado aircraft, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said during a joint statement with Air Force Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz in Berlin.

Asia-Pacific

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is expected to begin receiving the first tranche of 17 new Mil Mi-17 twin-engine multirole transport helicopters from Russia by the end of 2023, amid the continuing Ukrainian conflict. Philippines Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement to the media that the contract and the initial down payment for the Mi-17 acquisition project had been completed before Russia began its military operations in Ukraine.

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