Americas
The Boeing Insitu Integrator drone demonstrated the dropping of a pair of GPS-guided Shryke munitions. It is part of a program to add strike capability to Integrator, with Corvid Technologies’ Shryke one of several kinetic payloads the drone offers its customers. A NATO Class 1 small uncrewed aircraft system, Integrator has an endurance of 24 hours and a payload capacity of 40 pounds (18 kilograms).
Lockheed Martin wrapped up the final phase of development trials of the extended-range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (ER GMLRS), moving it closer to fielding. The alternative and unitary warhead variants of the rocket were tested during the systems qualification tests, clocking ranges from short and medium to maximum. The ER GMLRS is considered to have twice the range of its predecessor: from more than 70 kilometers (43 miles) to 150 kilometers (93 miles), while retaining the precision and reliability.
Middle East & Africa
A Dutch court on Friday dismissed demands by human rights groups to block the Dutch government from exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, which they said were enabling war crimes in the besieged Gaza Strip. Judges at the District Court in The Hague said they must leave the Dutch government a large degree of freedom when it comes to weighing political and policy issues in deciding on arms exports.
Europe
Lockheed Martin won a $132.8 million modification, which adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering and add/delete efforts in support of bringing eight MH-60R aircraft from a standard Foreign Military Sales (FMS) configuration to a unique configuration for the government of Spain. Additionally, this modification procures eight embedded global positioning system inertial navigation systems spares, four airborne low frequency sonars, production spares, and associated field service representative support. Work will be performed in Owego, New York (39%); Stratford, Connecticut (30%); Brest, France (21%); Portsmouth, Rhode Island (8%); and Troy, Alabama (2%), and is expected to be completed in June 2029.
The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Italy of M142 HIMARS launchers and related equipment for an estimated cost of $400 million. Currently the Italian Army operates an MLRS unit, the 5th “Superga” Artillery Regiment, located in north-eastern Italy, which operates as indirect fire support of the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps – Italy (NRDC-ITA), based in north-western Italy. The Italian Army organisation sees two divisional headquarters, the “Vittorio Veneto” based in Florence and the “Acqui” headquartered in Capua, north of Naples. These HQs do not have assigned forces but would receive their subordinate units on a task-based configuration, and are able to deploy as NATO, European Union or National HQ at their level as land component command or joint command in small joint operations as well as in full spectrum operations.
Asia-Pacific
For the first time, US Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighters touched down at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Nyutabaru Base in Shintomi Town for the first time. This marks the first-ever landing of the F-35B at Nyutabaru Base, signifying a new chapter in joint training between Japan and the United States. The F-35B, known for its advanced stealth capabilities and unique ability for short takeoffs and vertical landings, arrived as part of the ongoing joint training initiative between the two nations. The two aircraft from Iwakuni Air Base landed at Nyutabaru Air Base Base around 10:30 a.m., drawing the attention of spectators, including enthusiasts and local residents.
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