HII Awarded For Zumwalt Class | Elbit To Develop F-16 For IAF | Taiwan To Establish Fleet of 3,000 Drones This Year

Americas

Riverview Construction won a $10.5 million deal to construct a C-130 flight simulator training facility. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Scotia, New York, with an estimated completion date of February 14, 2024. According to Lockheed Martin, the C-130 Hercules primarily performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. The C-130 operates throughout the US Air Force, serving with Air Mobility Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command, US Air Forces in Europe, Pacific Air Forces, Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve Command, fulfilling a wide range of operational missions in both peace and war situations.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has been awarded a $10.5-million contract for the modernization planning of the US Navy’s Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers. According to company president Kari Wilkinson, HII shipbuilders will provide the necessary support to upgrade the capabilities of the Zumwalts, particularly the USS Zumwalt and USS Michael Monsoor.

Middle East & Africa

Israel has awarded Elbit Systems a $180-million contract to develop an F-16 mission training center (MTC) for the Israeli Air Force. The three-year agreement includes an additional 15-year period for platform operation and maintenance. According to the company, the future MTC will feature 10 simulators with accurate weapon representation and advanced resolution displays. It will be programmed with Elbit’s arena generator, providing users with accurate modern battlefield scenarios.

Europe

The Royal Netherlands Navy has officially transferred its authority over the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) to Germany in Den Helder. Dutch forces assumed command of SNMG1 in July last year, operating across the Baltic and North Seas. SNMG1 is a multinational task group dedicated to maintaining “a credible and capable defensive capability in accordance with treaty obligations.”

Armenia will not host Russian-led military exercises this year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Tuesday, signaling growing frustration with Moscow. Pashinyan’s announcement came after the leader of the ex-Soviet republic criticized Moscow and the work of Russian peacekeepers in the South Caucasus, which has been plagued for decades by fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Asia-Pacific

The Taiwanese government is a few steps away from establishing a fleet of 3,000 drones to counter a possible Chinese invasion. A cross-agency task force to establish the fleet announced Saturday that it would soon select the lead manufacturer for the program. Once the manufacturer is selected, a national unmanned aerial vehicle fleet will be established in the latter half of this year and become operational by year’s end.

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