Americas
According to a statement, the US Army awarded FLIR Systems a $15.4 million contract to procure Black Hornet 3 palm-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The army has placed several orders for the Black Hornet 3 totalling more than $85 million, FLIR Systems said. These include the first order, a $2.6 million contract awarded in 2018.
US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. told the House Appropriations defense subcommittee on May 7 that his service now has more F-35As compared to the A-10, F-15C/D and F-15E fleet. With 283 jets delivered, the fleet of stealth fighters is second only to the F-16.
Middle East & Africa
Israel’s army said that it had hit 130 “military targets” in Gaza, killing 15 “Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives” in retaliatory strikes after Palestinian militant groups launched a flurry of rockets towards Israel. “We have struck 130 military targets belonging mostly to Hamas,” the Islamist group that controls the blockaded Gaza strip, Israeli army spokesman Jonathan Conricus told reporters.
Europe
Sweden has taken delivery of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors in April, Lockheed Martin said. Sweden selected the PAC-3 MSE in August 2018. Building on the combat-proven PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI), the PAC-3 MSE expands the lethal battlespace with a two-pulse solid rocket motor, providing increased performance in altitude and range, according to Lockheed.
The Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) extended the Gripen future development support services contract with Saab. The order is valued at approximately $118 million and is valid from April 1 this year until December 31 next year. Serving as an extension of an existing contract, the latest contract supports the future development of the Swedish Air Force’s Gripen and other users of the aircraft.
Asia-Pacific
Australia has handed over the second and final Guardian Class patrol boat built for the government of the Solomon Islands. The vessel, which has been named RSIPV Taro, was formally accepted by the High Commissioner for Solomon Islands, Robert Sisilo, in a ceremony held on May 7 at the facilities of shipbuilder Austal in Henderson, Western Australia. The move follows the handover of the first boat, RSIPV Gizo (05), in November 2019.
Today’s Video
Watch: Jas 39 Gripen E – What Makes Gripen So Special
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlowYhdkHLU
