Insitu Tapped For Air Vehicle Production | Oshkosh To Produce Eitan For IDF | Korean Army Ordered LAH

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $527.7 million contract action, which will be awarded for a sole-source, hybrid (cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee) modification (P00054) under contract HQ085121C0002. This UCA expands performance of the Aegis Weapon System to implement Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities into an Aegis Guam System. An initial obligation of $11,394,512 using fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation funds will occur at the time of award. The work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, with period of performance from time of award through December 31, 2027.

Insitu won a $19 million modification, which adds scope for the production and delivery of 10 RQ-21A air vehicles, two RQ-21A turrets, support equipment, spares, tools, and training in support of RQ-21A Blackjack and ScanEagle unmanned aircraft platforms for the Navy, Marine Corps, and international partners. Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington; and various locations outside the continental US, and is expected to be completed in June 2026.

Middle East & Africa

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has contracted Oshkosh Defense to produce hundreds of “Eitan” armored personnel carrier (APC) hulls for the Israel Defense Forces. The more than $100 million US-funded contract will reportedly see 500 hulls delivered to Israel within 18 months. The hulls will be fitted with unmanned turrets and other systems and sent for operational use. More hulls are expected in the future.

Europe

The Russian Navy’s latest Admiral Gorshkov-class multi-role frigate has begun its second phase of sea trials. The testing follows a demonstration of the ship’s maneuverability, navigation capabilities, and propulsion at Severnaya Verf shipyard, Saint Petersburg in early December. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the second phase will validate the frigate’s control systems, artillery, anti-aircraft missile systems, communication, and electronic warfare equipment. All tests will be monitored by the service command control center. Results will be delivered to Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Evmenov.

Asia-Pacific

Aerospace firm L3Harris and Israeli defense manufacturer Elta Systems will deliver advanced threat detection and response systems to the Australian military. The newly-inked teaming contract would transform Australian fighting vehicles, enabling each to immediately detect incoming live fire and launch self-defense responses, including electronic warfare measures and kinetic effects.

South Korea has awarded Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) a $235 million contract to deliver 10 Light Armed Helicopters for the army. KAI will begin delivery of the aircraft by 2024, including training, maintenance, and spares, The Korean Herald reported. The award comes after the Defense Acquisition and Program Administration approved a $4.5 billion plan to mass produce the helicopters through 2031.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAV | Long-Endurance, Low-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

From Dolphins to Destroyers: The ScanEagle UAV

ScanEagle’s base Insight UAV platform was originally developed by Washington state’s Insitu, Inc. to track dolphins and tuna from fishing boats, in order to ensure that the fish you buy in supermarkets is “dolphin-safe”. It turns out that the same characteristics needed by fishing boats (able to handle salt water environments, low infrastructure launch and recovery, small size, 20-hour long endurance, automated flight patterns) are equally important for naval operations from larger vessels, and for battlefield surveillance. A partnership with Boeing took ScanEagle to market in those fields, and the USMC’s initial buy in 2004 was the beginning of a market-leading position in its niche.

This article covers recent developments with the ScanEagle UAV system, which is quickly evolving into a mainstay with the US Navy and its allies. Incumbency doesn’t last long in the fast-changing world of UAVs, though. Insitu’s own RQ-21 Integrator is looking to push the ScanEagle aside, and new multiple-award contracts in the USA are creating opportunities for other competitors. Can Insitu’s original stay strong?