Americas
Strategic Systems Programs contracted Charles Stark Draper Laboratory with $191 million for the production of TRIDENT II D5 Strategic Weapon System MK6 Guidance Equivalent Units. Draper Laboratory is a development organization that designs, develops, and deploys technological solutions for security, space exploration, healthcare, and energy sectors. The company specializes in the areas of positioning, navigation, and timing solutions, autonomous systems, precision instrumentation systems, microelectronic components and systems, fault-tolerant systems, secure and assured systems, human systems technology, image and data analytics techniques, biomedical solutions, and materials engineering and microfabrication. The TRIDENT is a submarine-launched ballistic missile equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles. In 2002, the United States Navy announced plans to extend the life of the submarines and the D5 missiles to the year 2040. This so called D5 Life Extension Program wants to replace obsolete components at minimal cost by using commercial off the shelf hardware. The new system had to fit into the space within the missile used by the previous system, constraining design in terms of volume and electrical and mechanical interfaces. The upgraded guidance system will maintain compatibility with other subsystems provided by a number of other companies, while staying on schedule and within budget. Work under the contract is scheduled to be finished by the end of July, 2022 and will take place in Massachusetts, Florida, and Texas.
The Air Force awarded Apogee Engineering $28.2 million for Space Logistics Infrastructure Support Services (SLISS)-2. The contract provides services to the Space and Missile System Center Space Logistics Directorate and related space organizations. Apogee Engineering is a sales rep firm in the industrial and petrochemical market. The SLISS-2 contract will be used to acquire non-personal services in support of various missions, command, control, communications and intelligence activities within Air Force Space Command. The deal will also provide logistical support to various space organizations such as Air Force Satellite Control Network, Space Lift Range System, Global Positioning System, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, Military Satellite Communications, and Space Based Infrared Systems. Work under the contract will take place at the Peterson and the Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado and is scheduled to be completed by February 28, 2025.
Middle East & Africa
The US Army contracted Boeing with a $12.9 million foreign military sales deal for post-production support services for the Qatar Armed Forces Apache helicopters. The AH-64 Apache is a twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. The AH-64E features improved digital connectivity, the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, more powerful T-700-GE-701-D engines with upgraded face gear transmission to accommodate more power, capability to control UAVs, and improved landing gear. The AH-64E was formerly known as the AH-64D Block II. In July 2012, Qatar requested the sale of 24 AH-64D Apache Block III helicopters, with associated equipment, training, and support. The sale was a approved on 27 March, 2014.
Lockheed Martin targets the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the sale of the Falcon Air Defense System. The US defense firm Lockheed Martin and security firms Diehl Defence and Saab unveiled Falcon, a short and medium range air defense system at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX). They hope the UAE will be the first customer. The new missile system was developed in response to a request from the UAE, which seeks to replace Lockheed’s Hawk Air Defense System. The Falcon is designed to counter threats such as unmanned aerial systems carrying lethal payloads, cruise missiles, and fixed and rotary winged aircraft capable of delivering ordnance at extended ranges. The missile integrates Diehl’s 40-kilometer range infra-red imaging system tail and vector-controlled interceptor and vertical launcher, with Saab’s 360-degree Giraffe radar system and Lockheed’s SkyKeeper command and control battle manager.
Europe
Last week the French Air Force and Navy successfully conducted the first two Meteor missile test firings from Rafale fighters. Intended for air superiority missions, the Meteor air-to-air missile is powered by a ramjet and capable of intercepting very long-range targets. Personnel from the Air Force Experimental Assessment Center and the Navy’s Airborne Experimental Center operated the Rafale aircraft, in close collaboration with the Directorate-General of Armaments DGA. Both firings were achieved thanks to the implementation by DGA of the test range, including security, instrumentation, target operation, and the replay of the launches from its site on Levant island.
Asia-Pacific
Japan’s first amphibious assault force became fully operational after the Amphibious Rapid deployment Brigade was certified during the Iron Fist 2019 Exercise in California, Jane’s reports. Iron Fist, held in Southern California, was one of two training exercises between the US Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force this month. Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers with the newly minted 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade took part in the Iron Fist exercises, which included tasks in sharpshooting, amphibious reconnaissance and landing missions, and other areas.
Today’s Video
Watch: Here’s The U.S. Navy’s New Stealth Destroyer’s: A Laser-Armed Warship?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEf_JeTQ0Rk
