Lockheed Martin won a $80 million modification, which adds scope to procure additional initial spares in support of F-35 Lightning II Lot 17 deliveries for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers, and non-US Department of Defense participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2029.
The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $234-million contract to produce and deliver the Over-the-Horizon Weapon System (OTH-WS). The work will be performed in Norway and various US locations through March 2027. The navy declared a team of Raytheon and Kongsberg the winner of the OTH-WS program in 2018 consisting of contract options worth up to $847.61 million.
Middle East & Africa
BIRD Aerosystems, an Israeli company which provides global innovative defense technology and solutions that protect fleets, armored vehicles, and ground assets of governments and related agencies, announced last week that it has delivered a Falcon 7X aircraft installed with its AMPS Airborne Missile Protection System and Aeroshield-M (Mini) POD to an undisclosed customer. The aircraft has completed a series of flight tests and certifications and will enter operational use by the customer.
Turkish firm Robit Technology unveiled the Azab kamikaze drone this week, a long-range loitering munition. “We have done all the flight tests. We move on to ammunition tests. We will carry out ammunition tests in the coming months,” Anadolu Agency quoted company product director Selcuk Firat as saying.
Europe
German tech provider Rohde & Schwarz has been awarded a contract to supply high-frequency (HF) liquid-cooled transmitters for the Royal Norwegian Navy. The HF transmitters maintain ship-to-shore connectivity “between any two points on the planet,” retaining a beyond line of sight (BLOS) network communication for warfighters.
Asia-Pacific
British jet developer Aeralis has partnered with Japanese firm ShinMaywa to implement digital engineering processes for aircraft design and manufacturing. Work is scheduled to begin this month to establish how digital engineering can enhance the companies’ businesses. Company experts will be embedded in the processes for knowledge sharing.
Latest updates[?]: Lockheed Martin won a $80 million modification, which adds scope to procure additional initial spares in support of F-35 Lightning II Lot 17 deliveries for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers, and non-US Department of Defense participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2029.
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F-35B: off probation
The $382 billion F-35 Joint Strike fighter program may well be the largest single global defense program in history. This major multinational program is intended to produce an “affordably stealthy” multi-role fighter that will have 3 variants: the F-35A conventional version for the US Air Force et. al.; the F-35B Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing for the US Marines, British Royal Navy, et. al.; and the F-35C conventional carrier-launched version for the US Navy. The aircraft is named after Lockheed’s famous WW2 P-38 Lightning, and the Mach 2, stacked-engine English Electric (now BAE)Lightning jet. Lightning II system development partners included The USA & Britain (Tier 1), Italy and the Netherlands (Tier 2), and Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Turkey (Tier 3), with Singapore and Israel as “Security Cooperation Partners,” and Japan as the 1st export customer.
The big question for Lockheed Martin is whether, and when, many of these partner countries will begin placing purchase orders. This updated article has expanded to feature more detail regarding the F-35 program, including contracts, sub-contracts, and notable events and reports during 2012-2013.
Raytheon won a $33 million spares delivery order under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-19-G-UX01 for the procurement of two Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system APG-79 weapon repairable assemblies (WRAs), for a total quantity of 54 WRAs in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in Forest, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed by December 2025. The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants derived from the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet series. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced versions of the F/A-18C and D Hornet.
The US Space Force has requested nearly $16 billion over the next five years to continue building a new class of spy satellites that can help track missiles moving at hypersonic speeds. The budget represents an increase of almost twice as much as previously estimated. The Space Force’s budget request for FY24 includes $2.3 billion for the development of small spacecraft in orbits less than 22,000 miles above Earth to identify and track enemy missiles. However, the Space Force is looking for steeper funding increases in the years ahead. The Resilient Missile Warning Missile Tracking Program is being developed to increase defenses against Russia and China, who are currently developing weapons that travel and maneuver above Mach 5 speeds. In the next few years, the program should produce several smaller satellites that can be launched into more diverse orbits, replacing the Space-Based Infrared System and Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites currently in orbit.
Middle East & Africa
Swiftships has received a deal to deliver seven additional coastal patrol craft (CPC) for the Egyptian Navy. The award follows an agreement in 2022 to deliver six patrol vessels on top of orders in 2014 and 2016. A total of 23 boats, including units under construction, will be delivered to the navy by 2027. Egypt’s future CPCs have a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 kilometers/29 miles per hour) and a range of up to 900 nautical miles (1,700 kilometers/1,000 miles).
Europe
Lockheed Martin Space won a $474.2 million modification for Trident II (D5) missile production and deployed systems support. This contract award also benefits a foreign military sale to the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Magna, Utah; Camden, Arkansas; Rockford, Illinois; Biddeford, Maine; Elkton, Maryland; Inglewood, California; Denver, Colorado; Titusville, Florida; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Joplin, Missouri; Lansdale, Pennsylvania; and locations less than 1% each. Work is expected to be completed September 30, 2027.
Asia-Pacific
Russia cannot meet its arms delivery commitments to India because of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to the Indian Air Force (AIF). The statement, aired during a parliamentary committee meeting earlier this week, was the first official confirmation from New Delhi of Moscow’s defense export shortfalls. It confirmed speculation that Russia’s defense industry is experiencing serious problems producing military supplies.
The Australian Defense Force (ADF) has halted operations of its entire MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet after one crashed near a New South Wales beach. According to deputy prime minister Richard Marles, ten soldiers were on board the multi-role Airbus chopper when it was forced to make an emergency landing in the water just after 9 pm on Wednesday.
Today’s Video
WATCH: Space Force Is The Newest US Military Branch. But What Do They Actually Do? | Boot Camp
Latest updates[?]: Raytheon won a $33 million spares delivery order under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-19-G-UX01 for the procurement of two Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system APG-79 weapon repairable assemblies (WRAs), for a total quantity of 54 WRAs in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in Forest, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed by December 2025. The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants derived from the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet series. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced versions of the F/A-18C and D Hornet.
Breakthrough…
The US Navy flies the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighters, and has begun operating the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare & strike aircraft. Many of these buys have been managed out of common multi-year procurement (MYP) contracts, which aim to reduce overall costs by offering longer-term production commitments, so contractors can negotiate better deals with their suppliers.
The MYP-II contract ran from 2005-2009, and was not renewed because the Pentagon intended to focus on the F-35 fighter program. When it became clear that the F-35 program was going to be late, and had serious program and budgetary issues, pressure built to abandon year-by-year contracting, and negotiate another multi-year deal for the current Super Hornet family. That deal is now final. This entry covers the program as a whole, with a focus on 2010-2015 Super Hornet family purchases. It has been updated to include all announced contracts and events connected with MYP-III, including engines and other separate “government-furnished equipment” that figures prominently in the final price.
The US will accelerate the time it takes to ship Abrams tanks to Ukraine by sending older M1-A1 models of America’s main battle tank instead of the more modern version of the tank, according to two US officials. The switch will allow the tanks to arrive as early as fall of this year, one of the officials said, shaving months off the previous timeline that could have taken a year or longer. On Tuesday morning, the National Security Council’s strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said the US was working to speed up the delivery of tanks to Ukraine.
The US Navy has requested $3.6 billion to fund the production and delivery of 64 Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) all-up rounds over five years. Budget documents reveal that the service wants to earmark $341 million for the first eight rounds in 2024. Additional scheduled deliveries include 10 rounds for $440 million in 2025, 11 rounds for $663 million in 2026, and 16 rounds for $988 million in 2027.
Middle East & Africa
US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) has delivered three Cyclone-class coastal patrol vessels to the Egyptian Navy. A transfer ceremony was held in Alexandria at the conclusion of training and professional exchanges to bolster interoperability between the US and Egyptian navies. The ships turned over include the USS Hurricane (PC 3), USS Sirocco (PC 6), and USS Thunderbolt (PC 12).
Europe
The Ukrainian Armed Forces has taken delivery of its first batch of 122-millimeter artillery shells featuring cutting-edge domestic components. The country’s arms conglomerate Ukroboronprom said it has shipped the third type of ammunition to support Kyiv in countering Russian aggression. The Ukraine currently uses the 120-mm mortar mine and the 125-mm tank projectile to neutralize enemy assets.
Asia-Pacific
British jet developer Aeralis has partnered with Japanese firm ShinMaywa to implement digital engineering processes for aircraft design and manufacturing. Work is scheduled to begin this month to establish how digital engineering can enhance the companies’ businesses. Company experts will be embedded in the processes for knowledge sharing. ShinMaywa, which manufactures the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force’s US-2 amphibious aircraft, is looking to implement full digital engineering processes in its operations.
North Korea launched cruise missiles toward the sea on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, three days after the North carried out what it called a simulated nuclear attack on South Korea to protest its military drills with the United States. North Korea has stepped up its weapons testing activities, saying they are in response to the ongoing South Korean-US military training that it sees as an invasion rehearsal.
Today’s Video
WATCH: US to ‘expedite’ delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine – Pentagon
Latest updates[?]: The US will accelerate the time it takes to ship Abrams tanks to Ukraine by sending older M1-A1 models of America’s main battle tank instead of the more modern version of the tank, according to two US officials. The switch will allow the tanks to arrive as early as fall of this year, one of the officials said, shaving months off the previous timeline that could have taken a year or longer. On Tuesday morning, the National Security Council’s strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said the US was working to speed up the delivery of tanks to Ukraine.
M1A2 SEP
America’s M1 Abrams tanks come in a number of versions. In addition to the M1A1 that is now standard, the US Army is beginning to field its M1 TUSK for urban warfare. It also operates the M1A2 System Enhancement Program (SEP), currently the most advanced standard variant.
This Spotlight article covers the M1A2 Abrams SEP upgrade program, and will be updated and backfilled as new contracts are issued and key events take place.
Sikorsky won a $120 million deal to provide logistics, engineering and modification install support for the H-53 helicopter for the Marine Corps, Navy, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut; and various locations within the continental US, and is expected to be completed in March 2028. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued.
Northrop Grumman won a $50 million contract modification, which exercises options to provide non-recurring engineering, product support, and production cut in support, in support of Lot 11 E-2D Hawkeye production aircraft. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (24.8%); St. Augustine, Florida (20.1%); Liverpool, New York; El Segundo, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Menlo Park, California; Rolling Meadows, Illinois; Aire-sur-l’Adour, France; Edgewood, New York; Marlboro, Massachusetts; Woodland Hills, California; Greenlawn, New York; and various locations within the continental US, and is expected to be completed in February 2027.
Middle East & Africa
Elbit Systems, Nippon Aircraft Supply (NAS) and Itochu Aviation have signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote mutual cooperation for a range of solutions between the companies. As part of the MOU, Elbit Systems will provide the main components, technology and knowledge to NAS and Itochu. NAS will provide the capabilities for local integration, manufacturing, test and maintenance and Itochu will lead the marketing of the products in Japan. This cooperation will address the growing Japanese interest in the field of defense while aligned with the local requirements that Elbit Systems provides Japan-based production and qualities.
Europe
Greece is considering partnering with Lockheed Martin to provide security, supply, and information (SSI) infrastructure programs for the F-35 fighter jet package. A decision by the Greek Defense Ministry is expected next week on this proposal which would ensure the successful reception of the F-35s in 2027-28. The SSI infrastructure is crucial in transferring expertise, including cybersecurity and network security. Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program due to its use of a third-party system (S-400) compromising these features. Sources report that Greek and US delegations discussed the proposal in a meeting last week, with the Hellenic National Defense General Staff and Hellenic Air Force General Staff pressuring for a price tag under $500 million. The domestic defense industry is also looking for a guarantee of an additional $500 million for projects.
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $150 million, the Pentagon said on Thursday. The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale. Poland has requested to buy eight hundred (800) AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles; and four (4) M36 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM).
Asia-Pacific
Japan has received and commissioned its latest Taigei-class attack submarine, the JS Hakugei, at Kobe Shipyard. The vessel’s construction began in 2019, while its launch was conducted in 2021. The Hakugei was completed in partnership with Kawasaki and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries this year.
Today’s Video
WATCH: CH-53K King Stallion: The Biggest Helicopter in the US Military
Latest updates[?]: Sikorsky won a $120 million deal to provide logistics, engineering and modification install support for the H-53 helicopter for the Marine Corps, Navy, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut; and various locations within the continental US, and is expected to be completed in March 2028. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued.
CH-53K concept
The U.S. Marines have a problem. They rely on their CH-53E Super Stallion medium-heavy lift helicopters to move troops, vehicles, and supplies off of their ships. But the helicopters are wearing out. Fast. The pace demanded by the Global War on Terror is relentless, and usage rates are 3 times normal. Attrition is taking its toll. Over the past few years, CH-53s have been recalled from “boneyard” storage at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ, in order to maintain fleet numbers in the face of recent losses and forced retirements. Now, there are no flyable spares left.
Enter the Heavy Lift Replacement (HLR) program, now known as the CH-53K. It aims to offer notable performance improvements over the CH-53E, in a similar airframe. The question is whether its service entry delay to 2018-2019 will come too late to offset a serious decline in Marine aviation.
Latest updates[?]: Northrop Grumman won a $50 million contract modification, which exercises options to provide non-recurring engineering, product support, and production cut in support, in support of Lot 11 E-2D Hawkeye production aircraft. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida (24.8%); St. Augustine, Florida (20.1%); Liverpool, New York; El Segundo, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Menlo Park, California; Rolling Meadows, Illinois; Aire-sur-l'Adour, France; Edgewood, New York; Marlboro, Massachusetts; Woodland Hills, California; Greenlawn, New York; and various locations within the continental US, and is expected to be completed in February 2027.
Northrop Grumman’s E-2C Hawkeye is a carrier-capable “mini-AWACS” aircraft, designed to give long-range warning of incoming aerial threats. Secondary roles include strike command and control, land and maritime surveillance, search and rescue, communications relay, and even civil air traffic control during emergencies. E-2C Hawkeyes began replacing previous Hawkeye versions in 1973. They fly from USN and French carriers, from land bases in the militaries of Egypt, Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan; and in a drug interdiction role for the US Naval Reserve. Over 200 Hawkeyes have been produced.
The $17.5 billion E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program aims to build 75 new aircraft with significant radar, engine, and electronics upgrades in order to deal with a world of stealthier cruise missiles, saturation attacks, and a growing need for ground surveillance as well as aerial scans. It looks a lot like the last generation E-2C Hawkeye 2000 upgrade on the outside – but inside, and even outside to some extent, it’s a whole new aircraft.
Northrop Grumman has submitted a bid for the US Navy’s E-6B Mercury command, control, and communications aircraft replacement program. The US defense giant is offering its “weapons system integration and battle management leadership” for the E-6 recapitalization aircraft (E-XX) Take Charge And Move Out (TACAMO) program. The aircraft will be based on the C-130J platform. “Our extensive experience integrating aircraft and mission systems, combined with our expertise in creating operationally-ready solutions in support of the nuclear enterprise, makes Northrop Grumman the optimal partner to deliver the Navy’s E-XX TACAMO weapon system,” Northrop vice president Janice Zilch said.
On March 15, 2023, during exercise Guerrier Nordique 23, a joint effort between the United States and Canada resulted in the first-ever platoon movement of its kind. Thirty-seven US and Canadian soldiers were tactically inserted on Arctic Ocean ice east of Little Cornwallis Island in Nunavut, Canada, via an LC-130 Hercules. The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing, flying with a ski-equipped C-130, played a significant role in this operation with their expertise in snow and ice landings. They were able to land on specially built skiways and ski landing areas thanks to airmen who build and maintain those runways. The LC-130H that was used in this operation was equipped with 4 by 20-foot skis.
Middle East & Africa
Aviation Training won a $28.6 million modification, which increases the ceiling to provide continued KC130J pilot, enlisted aircrew, and maintenance training support services as well as program management and administrative support services for the government of Kuwait. Work will be performed in Altus, Oklahoma; and Kuwait. It is expected to be completed in March 2025.
Europe
European Union member states reached an agreement that aims to provide Ukraine with 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition over the next year. The EU members agreed to a plan Monday to back spending $1.1 billion from its European Peace Facility for the bloc’s countries to jointly buy ammunition, according to people familiar with the matter. They also backed spending another €1 billion from the same fund to reimburse what member states send from their own existing stockpiles of both modern and Soviet-era ammunition to Ukraine.
Asia-Pacific
Valiant Global Defense Services won a $14 million modification for personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform Korea Battle Simulation Center Operation Center operations services. Work will be performed at Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2024.
Australia said a deal to buy 220 US Tomahawk cruise missiles was essential for keeping “adversaries at bay” Friday, as Canberra ratchets up defense spending to counter growing Chinese military clout. Defense industry minister Pat Conroy said the potent long-range weapons would be deployed first to existing surface ships and later to a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
