Americas
Systems Planning and Analysis won a $7 million modification to exercise fiscal 2025 options to provide support services for the Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Strategic Weapons System. Tasks to be performed include technical services, program support, assessments, and special studies and systems engineering. Work is expected to be completed September 30, 2025. This contract was awarded as a sole source acquisition with the authority of 10 US. Code 3204(a)(1). SSP, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $48 million modification to exercise an option for continued sustainment of the French Air Force MQ-9 unmanned aerial system program fleet. Work will be performed in Poway, California; and France, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2025. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to France. FMS funds in the amount of $48,482,812 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
Middle East & Africa
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has contracted three more Avante 2200 corvettes from Spanish firm Navantia to serve with the royal navy, according to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense. The three new corvettes will join the existing fleet of five Avante 2200 corvettes already in service as part of the Sarawat project signed between KSA and Navantia in 2018.
Europe
The four-nation Eurofighter consortium are betting on BAE Systems to produce the world’s most advanced fighter pilot helmet for their fighter. The consortium, which manages the development, production and sustainment of the Eurofighter Typhoon for the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, awarded BAE Systems a £133 million contract to further develop its Striker II Helmet Mounted-Display (HMD). The award follows an initial £40 million investment by the UK Ministry of Defence in September 2023 to begin flight trials. The Striker II HMD represents the cutting edge of fighter helmet technology. It is the only full-colour HMD with an integrated night vision system available anywhere. BAE says the helmet will give Eurofighter pilots a decisive edge in an increasingly complex and dangerous battlespace. Striker II builds on the combat-proven success of the original Striker HMD which is currently in service with the Typhoon and Gripen fleets.
Asia-Pacific
The UK, Italy, and Japan on Friday launched a joint venture to develop a supersonic next-generation fighter jet by 2035, replacing the Eurofighter Typhoon. Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC) will each hold a 33.3 percent share in the new venture, “marking a pivotal moment for the international aerospace and defence industry,” they announced in a press release. JAIEC is a firm jointly funded by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies.
