DSCA clears TOW sale to Saudi Arabia | France & Ukraine sign their largest deal for Airbus helicopters | Israel considers Osprey after joint exercises

Americas

• Raytheon Missile Systems was awarded a contract for the provision of various services related to its Tomahawk cruise missile production. Valued at $37 million, the contract provides for lifecycle management and technical support required to maintain a Tomahawk cruise missile depot facility, including depot maintenance, demilitarization preparation, system test operations and foreign military sales maintenance. This also includes associated support requirements for the Navy and the government of the United Kingdom. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Most recently, the US Navy’s FY18 Budget $3.4 billion weapons procurement request called for the acquisition of 100 ship-launched Tactical Tomahawk cruise missiles.

• Jane’s reports that Boeing is about to give Lockheed Martin a Legion pod full development and production contract. This contract aims to integrate the Legion Pod infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor on the F-15C by end of the year. The pod is mounted on the centreline of the jet – mirroring what the Super Hornet Block III is doing – and the IRST21 long-wave infrared sensor being used is the same as the navy version. Infra-Red Search & Track (IRST) systems provide long range thermal imaging against air and ground targets. IRST enables the host aircraft to acquire and track airborne targets through the heat generated by the jet engine and through aerodynamic heating of the airframe as it travels through the atmosphere. Being a passive system, the target aircraft does not know that it is being tracked. The IRST21 sensor has already been fitted to the US Navy’s Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet as part of an interim drop tank/IRST sensor combination. The Legion Pod is equipped with advanced networking and data processing technology, and also supports the emerging Multi-Domain Adaptable Processing System.

Middle East & Africa

• Israel revives interest in procuring Bell Boeing MV-22 Ospreys after a joint exercise conducted with the US Marine Corps. Exercise “Juniper Cobra” formally concluded on March 15 after several weeks of robust training between US and Israeli military personnel on shared capabilities and interoperability via computer simulations and live scenarios. The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft has the capability to take off and land vertically and on short runways. It is primarily used by the US Marine Corps and Air Force. Israel last year froze a potential acquisition process for the V-22 Osprey, which had emerged as a possible solution for supporting its special forces personnel following flight evaluations conducted four years ago. Following the type’s participation in the recent exercise, Israeli sources indicate that a re-evaluation of a V-22 deal could be considered, “even in small numbers”. On March 23, another V-22 Osprey support contract was awarded to Bell Boeing JPO by the Department of Defense, valued at more than $102.8 million.

• The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of  TOW 2B (BGM-71F-Series) missiles for an estimated cost of $670 million. The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to purchase up 6,600 TOW 2B missiles and 96 TOW 2B fly-to-buy lot validation missiles. The principal contractor is Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ. The wire-guided, operator-controlled BGM-71 TOW missile family remains a mainstay thanks to modernization, specialization, improved sighting systems, and pre-existing compatibility with a wide range of ground vehicles. In September 2017, Raytheon has been awarded a $31.5 million US Army contract modification for domestic and foreign military sales of the BGM-71 TOW guided anti-tank missile. The contract is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2018 after which the missiles will be delivered to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the US military. This deal comes at a time of heightened geo-political tension in the region and can be seen as a US foreign policy and national security initiative aimed at strengthening the security of one of its most important allies in the Middle East. This sale is in line with US initiatives providing key partners in the region with modern systems that enhance interoperability and increase stability.

Europe

• France received its 14th A400M Atlas military airlifter and meets a major milestone. The delivery took place several months in advance of the scheduled date, thanks to significant improvement in the quality of the aircraft delivered. Delivery of the 14th unit means that the French air force now has a large enough fleet of A400Ms to fly operational missions and test further tactical capabilities such as in-flight refueling of fighter jets. France ordered a total of 50 A400Ms. The 15th A400M is due to be shipped next year, the first of the 11-strong batch of units scheduled for delivery in the draft 2019-2025 military budget law. Airbus’ A400M is a €20 billion program that aims to repeat Airbus’ civilian successes in the full size military transport market. A number of smart design decisions and versatility leave the aircraft well positioned to tale overall market share form Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules.

• In the coming months two German Bundeswehr drone projects are up for some critical milestones. The government’s newest biannual snapshot of big-ticket investments that seek to reverse a trend of out-of-date equipment after years of chronic underfunding. Despite the fact that a previous deal regarding the lease of five Heron drones failed, one can expect advocates for the German Heron TP to push parliamentary consideration of the project soon. Also this spring, the multinational Eurodrone project is set to move forward with the issuing of an industry solicitation. The project is a cooperation between Germany, France, Italy and Spain and involves the companies Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo. An eventual contract is set to be in place next year. Delivery of the drones to the nations’ armed forces is eyed for 2025. The envisioned Eurodrones are medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft for reconnaissance and combat.

• Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and French Minister for European and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian have signed an agreement on the purchase of 55 helicopters produced by Airbus Helicopters for the needs of the Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry. The Ministry plans to receive helicopters of three models, the H145, H125 and H225, which will complement Ukraine’s Mi-8 helicopters. The French-produced helicopters will help operation of the State Service for Emergency Situations, the National Guard, the National Police and the State Border Service of Ukraine. This procurement contract is the largest project between Ukraine and France.

Asia-Pacific

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp, Melbourne, Florida was contracted to provide program and engineering support for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye weapon system trainer for the government of Japan. The contract has a value of $13,8 million and includes development, integration and verification processes. Japan ordered its first E-2D Hawkeye aircraft in 2015. The E-2D weapon system trainer will enable training for Japanese Ministry of Defense weapons system operators in the operation and employment of the Japan E-2D Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D comes with enhanced operational capabilities including the replacement of the old radar system with Lockheed Martin AN/APY9 radar, upgraded communications suite, mission computer, displays and the incorporation of an all-glass cockpit. The aircraft will improve Japan’s ability to effectively provide homeland defence utilizing an AEW&C capability.

Today’s Video

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