US Army Tested APKWS Laser | DoS Approves AH-1W Refurbishment | Finland Orders 155-millimeter Ammunition Parts

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $120 million modification, which exercises an option to provide continued engineering, maintenance, logistics, and material support in support of the development, production, and sustainment of software builds, as well as to execute developmental flight tests in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) partners. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (80%); Orlando, Florida (7%); Linthicum, Maryland (3%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); San Diego, California (2%); El Segundo, California (2%); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (1%); various locations within the continental U.S. (CONUS) (1%); and various locations outside CONUS (1%), and is expected to be completed in March 2024.

The US Army has tested BAE Systems’ APKWS laser guidance kits on a counter-drone mission at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. The capability transforms unguided rockets into “smart” munitions for precision strike applications. The trial supports company efforts to market the APKWS to international military partners. During the demonstration, the army’s Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office fired precision-guided rockets using the guidance kits against Class-2 unmanned aerial systems.

Middle East & Africa

Bahrain has been approved by the State Department for a possible Foreign Military Sale of equipment and services to refurbish 24 AH-1W multi-role helicopters. The estimated total cost is $350 million and includes refurbishment of a full-motion Aircraft Procedures Trainer, missile launchers, spare aircraft engines, spare parts, support, training, publications, and logistics program support. The sale will improve Bahrain’s capability to meet current and future threats and will not alter the military balance in the region. The principal contractor for the sale will be Bell Corporation, Fort Worth, TX, and implementation will not require any additional US government or contractor representatives in Bahrain.

The State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait of additional Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD) and support. The Government of Kuwait has requested to buy additional Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD) and support that will be added to a previously implemented case that was under Congressional notification threshold. The original FMS case, valued at $48.2 million, included CAD/PAD items and support for Calendar Years 2025-2026 (CY25-CY26). This notification is for CAD/PAD items and support of Kuwait’s F/A-18 and KC-130/J aircraft fleet. Also included is engineering, technical, and program support and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is $59.1 million.

Europe

Finland has contracted local defense firm Nammo Lapua Oy to manufacture additional 155-millimeter ammunition parts for its military. The value of the order is $112 million. The additional round parts will expand the stockpiles of the Finnish Defence Forces. They will also improve Helsinki’s security of supply and allow the local industry to raise its ammunition production capacity, defense minister Antti Kaikkonen said.

Spain will send six promised Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine after Easter to help the war-torn country fend off Russia’s invasion, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Wednesday. Madrid announced in February it would send the German-made 2A4 Leopard to Ukraine after they underwent repairs. The tanks have not been used in years and were in storage at a military base in the northeastern city of Zaragoza.

Asia-Pacific

India showed off domestically made helicopters, drones, and artillery at a gathering of army chiefs and officials from 31 African nations on Wednesday, as the world’s largest arms importer seeks to become a major exporter too. India has pumped billions into its defense sector in an effort to become less reliant on imports, including from Russia, as it faces off against China on their disputed border.

Today’s Video

WATCH: Next-Gen Tiltrotor Aircraft is Coming

Snakes and Rotors: The H-1 Helicopter Program

The US Marines’ helicopter force is aging at all levels, from banana-shaped CH-46 Sea Knight transports that are far older than their pilots, to the 1980s-era UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters that make up the Corps’ helicopter assault force. While the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey program has staggered along for almost 2 decades under accidents, technical delays, and cost issues, replacement of the USMC’s backbone helicopter assets has languished. Given the high-demand scenarios inherent in the current war, other efforts are clearly required.

Enter the H-1 program, the USMC’s plan to remanufacture older helicopters into new and improved UH-1Y utility and AH-1Z attack helicopters. The new versions would discard the signature 2-bladed rotors for modern 4-bladed improvements, redo the aircraft’s electronics, and add improved engines and weapons to offer a new level of performance. It seemed simple, but hasn’t quite worked out that way. The H-1 program has encountered its share of delays and issues, but the program survived its review, and continued on into production and deployment.

DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This article covers the H-1 helicopter programs’ rationales and changes, the upgrades involved in each model, program developments and annual budgets, the full timeline of contracts and key program developments, and related research sources.