Airbus Won Deal For The Lakota | Saab Provides British Army With Next-Gen Anti-Tank Systems | Lockheed To Provide Strategic Weapon System Trident Fleet Support

Americas

Airbus US Space & Defense won a $297.5 million modification for UH-72 Lakota contractor logistics support and engineering services. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, Texas, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2023. The UH-72A Lakota is a light utility helicopter specifically designed to meet the requirements of the US Army. The UH-72A Lakota helicopters were acquired to replace the UH-1H Iroquois and OH-58 A/C Kiowa helicopters.

A B-2 stealth bomber had an in-flight malfunction on December 10 and the aircraft made an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base. During the landing, the runway of the base was damaged and a fire broke out, which was extinguished by Whiteman’s fire department. No one was injured in the accident. Whiteman Air Force Base is located in western Missouri, near the city of Knob Noster. The base is home to the 509th Bomb Wing, which operates the B-2 stealth bomber.

Middle East & Africa

Russia has provided flying training for the Su-35 fighter to Iranian pilots this spring, the Biden administration said. Russia is providing Iran with military support in exchange for weapons to be used in the war in Ukraine. Russia may also be looking to collaborate with Iran on weapons development and potentially establish a joint production line for drones in Russia. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Iran has been providing significant military support to Russia, including the sale of several hundred drones since August. These drones have been used by Russia to attack Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and energy facilities, causing civilian casualties.

Europe

The UK Ministry of Defense has awarded Saab a $278 million contract to provide next-generation light anti-tank weapons  (NLAW) for the British Army. Delivery will take place between 2024 and 2026. Thales will then assemble them at its facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “Demand is increasing for anti-tank systems such as NLAW. We look forward to further strengthening our close relationship with the UK and are proud to continue delivering our proven and trusted anti-tank capability,” Saab CEO and President Micael Johansson said.

Lockheed won a $328.5 million deal for the US and United Kingdom to provide Strategic Weapon System Trident Fleet support, Trident II Shipboard Integration Increment 8, and navigation subsystem development efforts. The contract award also benefits a foreign military sale to the United Kingdom. Work will take place in New York, California, Florida, Massachusetts and Virginia.

Asia-Pacific

Northrop Grumman won a $32.5 million order, which procures spare Wet Outer Wing Panels for the government of Japan’s configuration of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. An additional two E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) arrived by ship on 18 October, bringing to six the number of these aircraft completed for Japan to date. Work will take place in New York, Florida, North Carolina, California, Oklahoma, Utah and various other locations within the continental US. Expected completion will be in July 2027.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Su-35: a guest from the future. The fastest and the most maneuverable fighter of the Air Force

UH-72 Lakota Light Helicopter Lands Airbus in US Defense Market

DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This is DID’s FOCUS Article regarding the US Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program, covering the program and its objectives, the winning bid team and industrial arrangements, and contracts.

The US Army’s LUH program will finish as a 325 helicopter acquisition program that will be worth about $2.3 billion when all is said and done. It aimed to replace existing UH-1 Hueys and OH-58 Kiowa utility variants in non-combat roles, freeing up larger and more expensive UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for front-line duty. In June 2006, a variant of Eurocopter’s EC145 beat AgustaWestland’s AB139, Bell-Textron’s 412EP Twin Huey, and MD Helicopters’ 902 Explorer NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) design. The win marked EADS’ 1st serious military win in the American market, and their “UH-145” became the “UH-72A Lakota” at an official December 2006 naming ceremony.

Eurocopter has continued to field new mission kits and deliver helicopters from its Mississippi production line, while trying to build on their LUH breakthrough. A training helicopter win will keep the line going for a couple more years…