Americas
Canadian unmanned aerial systems developer Draganfly has secured a contract to provide its Commander3 XL platform for a major US Department of Defense branch. The order supports Washington’s ongoing efforts to adopt next-generation platforms that integrate monitoring and active operational functions. Once delivered, the Commander3 XL will support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with added tasking capabilities, advancing the American military’s push to deploy flexible autonomous systems in combat.
Aviation Systems Engineering won a $15 million firm-fixed-price modification, which is exercising contract line items for continued support of training efforts for the German Navy in both maintenance functions and flight operations for the P-8A Poseidon aircraft to assist German P-8A squadrons in achieving European military airworthiness requirements for aircraft maintainer various rates; as well as teach maintenance practices for conventional weapon loading and fiber optic wiring, teach P-8A pilots and aircrew, support the German Navy in maintaining pilot and aircrew proficiency and completing Naval Air Training and Operating Procedure Standardization check rides as well as emergency procedure check rides for the German Navy. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (50%); Nordholz, Germany (40%); and Berlin, Germany (10%), and is expected to be completed in May 2030. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $7,741,22 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Middle East & Africa
Iranian forces on Wednesday warned a US destroyer to stay out of waters claimed by Tehran, state television reported, an interaction a US defense official said was “safe and professional” and did not affect the ship’s mission. The exchange in the Gulf of Oman between the two rivals comes a month after the United States carried out strikes against three key Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war between Israel and the Islamic republic.
Europe
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSA?) and Airbus, one of Europe’s leading aerospace companies, have inked an agreement to accelerate the export of the Hürjet advanced jet trainer to Spain. Signed during the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) here, the pact formalizes the collaboration between TUSA? and Airbus on the Hürjet program and defines each company’s role in Spain’s jet trainer procurement process.
The US State Department has approved the potential foreign military sales (FMS) of support services for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) and HAWK Phase III missile system to Ukraine. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of the possible sales. Under the first FMS, which is estimated to cost $150m, Ukraine seeks to acquire equipment and services for the Bradley refurbishment. The second FMS is for sustainment related articles and services for the HAWK Phase III missile system. It has an estimated cost of $172m. Ukraine intends to procure five-tonne cargo trucks, spare parts, refurbishment and overhaul of HAWK air defence fire units, tool kits, test equipment, support equipment, technical documentation, storage containers for spare parts.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem has formally announced development of the K3 next-generation main battle tank (MBT), with work being done in collaboration with the government’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Defense Agency for Technology and Quality. Hyundai Rotem states the K3’s emphasis is on firepower – and indeed it boasts a new 130mm gun with artificial intelligence (AI)-based fire controls – “highly efficient and silent” mobility, state-of-the-art survivability and “real-time battle management network-based C4ISR”.