Americas
Huntington Ingalls Industries won a $290.6 million cost-plus-fixed fee modification to prepare and make ready for the refueling and complex overhaul of the USS John C. Stennis or CVN 74. The modification adds a second year to a previously awarded contract. Huntington Ingalls will obtain long-lead-time materials, perform forecasting and scheduling tasks, develop cost estimates, facilitate pre-overhaul tests and assessments, manage data acquisition efforts and conduct other advanced planning functions. The USS John C. Stennis is a Nimitz Class nuclear powered supercarrier. The Nimitz Class aircraft carriers are the largest warships ever built. With over 6,000 personnel, the carrier has a displacement of 102,000t, and a flight deck length of 332.9m. Services under the modification are part of the CVN 74 RCOH initiative for fiscal year 2019 through fiscal 2020. Naval Sea Systems Command will obligate $107.5M in FY19 incremental shipbuilding and conversion funds at the time of award. Work will take place in Newport News, Virginia through July 2020.
The Navy awarded Northrop Grumman Systems an $8.7 million fixed-fee delivery for non-recurring engineering needed to modify software to detect deficiencies identified by the Navy and Marine Corps aircrews and test community in the Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures AN/AAQ-24 system. The AN/AAQ-24 system is a directional infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system to protect aircraft from infrared (IR) homing (“heat seeking”) man-portable missiles. DIRCM is a lightweight, compact system designed to provide mission-vulnerable aircraft with increased protection from common battlefield threats. It is more advanced than conventional infrared countermeasures. Northrop will perform work in Rolling Meadows, Illinois and estimated completion day is in May 2021.
The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of 152 MIDS-JTRS (5). The deal for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System – Joint Tactical Radio System is valued at $44 million. Canada had requested 152 MIDS-JTRS terminals with remote power supply, along with spare cables and MIDS batteries, Link-16 mobile racks, diagnostic support tools, technical documentation, and training and engineering technical support. The terminals will upgrade Canada’s CF-18 and CC-130J aircraft and Royal Canadian Air Force’s ground stations, providing modernized electronic protection, secure, jam-resistant wave forms, and Link 16 message exchange and information fidelity including support to advanced weapon employment.
Middle East & Africa
The US Navy awarded Vertex Aerospace a $9.6 million contract modification for Automatic Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast Out installs. The deal also exercises an option for organizational and intermediate depot maintenance and logistics and supply support for three KC-130J aircraft for the government of Kuwait under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Lockheed Martin KC-130J is the latest variant of the family of extended-range tanker version of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft modified for aerial refueling. Vertex Aerospace will perform work at the Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base in Kuwait and expected completion date is in August next year.
Advanced Electronics won a $57.8 million modification for the Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA Cyber Protection System and Related Facilities program. The F-15SA multi-role fighter is a Saudi Advanced variant of the Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle. It has a modern fly-by-wire flight control system in place of the hybrid electronic/mechanical system used by previous F-15s. The variant includes the APG-63(v)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, digital electronic warfare systems (DEWS), infrared search and track (IRST) systems, and other advanced systems. It also includes a redesigned cockpit originally intended for the F-15SE. The fly-by-wire system will allow the carriage of weapons on the previously unused outer wing weapon stations. Work is expected to be completed by July 31, 2022.
Europe
Lockheed Martin won a $800 million firm-fixed-price incentive contract for the production and support of 14 Slovak Republic F-16 block 70 aircraft. Slovakia wants to replace its MiG-29 fighter jets with this purchase. The country had previously been in talks to purchase Saab Gripen multirole fighter jets from Sweden, but Defense Minister Peter Gajdoš stalled those discussions and invited other bidders, with the field eventually narrowing in February 2018 to a choice between F-16 Vipers and JAS-39 C/D Gripens. Among its nearest neighbors, Hungary and the Czech Republic operate Gripen jets, while Poland has fleet of F-16s. Lockheed will perform work in Greenville, South Carolina and estimated completion dare is January 21, 2024.
Asia-Pacific
Thailand wants to buy BrahMos cruise missiles. The country has been in talks with India for the purchase. The Brahmos missile systems can be used in ground attack and shore defense modes. BrahMos missiles have a range of about 300 km and weigh 2.5 tonnes. The missile was developed by India in cooperation with Russia, with a maximum speed of 3,450 km/h.-VNA. While Thailand expressed interest in the missiles some time back, discussions picked pace after the visit of Royal Thai Navy Chief Admiral Ruddit to India in December last year, the paper said. The two sides are likely to sign a sale contract next year.
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