Americas
With a backorder for 128 jets, the Lockheed Martin F-16 could be flying in 2070s, Air Force Magazine reports. The last aircraft in this order is not expected to be delivered until 2026, with a service of more than 40 years, this last aircraft could be flying well into 2070. To be manufactured at Greenville, South Carolina, these aircraft are destined for Bahrain, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan and an unnamed customer. These customers have indicated they are keen to follow on with new orders.
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is the first to deploy the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System from the East Coast, a Marines statement said. The amphibious attack unit, regarded as a fast-response air-and-ground task force and garrisoned at Camp Lejeune, NC, was assigned a HIMARS, a wheeled, multiple rocket launching system, in September 2020.
Middle East & Africa
A huge explosion and fire that injured 9 persons was reported Sunday near an arms factory that manufactures some of Iran’s drones in Isfahan, Central Iran. However, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that fire incident relates to a private sector’s factory producing incendiary materials. “The reason for the explosion at the Sepahan Nargostar chemical industry is under investigation while nine injured people have been transferred to hospital,” spokesman Abbas Abedi of the province’s medical emergency centre was quoted as saying by the Mehr state news agency.
A Boeing F-15QA Advanced Eagle combat aircraft destined for Qatar suffered a mishap when two US Air Force (USAF) pilots ejected while the aircraft was on the ground during pre-delivery trials in the United States. The incident occurred at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Illinois on 18 May. Images posted of the aircraft afterwards show it to have suffered little to no visible damage, with only the two ejection seats and canopy missing.
Europe
UK’s Minister for Defense Procurement Jeremy Quin has formally opened a new manufacturing plant in the North West of England which will play a significant role in building the British Army’s latest armored vehicle – the Boxer. During his visit to WFEL in Stockport, Mr Quin saw first-hand the newly built facility which will fabricate all the armored hulls and assemble the finished Boxer vehicles for delivery to MoD.
Asia-Pacific
BAE Systems Australia will build additional electronic controls for Joint Strike Missiles made by Norway’s Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace. The contract for 180 Passive Radio Frequency Sensors, or PRS, completes the first full rate of production order for elements of the fifth-generation, long-range, precision-guided stand-off missile system used by ships, where it is known as the Naval Strike Missile, and carried by F-35 fighter planes.
Today’s Video
Watch: Insane Battle with Aggressive Fire TOS-1 MLRS VS M142 HIMARS MLRS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDE7rd9rvPU
