Americas
General Dynamics Mission Systems won a $17.5 million deal for wide band radomes. The deal provides for production of wide band radomes supporting Air Force F-16 aircraft outfitted with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars. AESA is a phased array system in which the beam of signals can be steered electronically in any direction, without physically moving the antenna. The antenna consists of an array of an array of small antennas each with a separate feed. The beam is steered by electronically by controlling the phase of the radio waves transmitted and received by each of the multiple radiating elements in the antenna. Work will take place in Marion, Virginia and expected completion date is by August 30, 2032.
Day & Zimmermann Lone Star LLC won a $39.4 million contracts for the manufacture of M500 cartridge actuated cutters used on the C-130 and C-17 aircraft during load airdrop sequence. The deal includes a five-year ordering period with no options. The Lockheed Martin C-130 is the US Air Force’s principal tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft. The C-130J Hercules is the latest model, featuring a glass cockpit, digital avionics and a new propulsion system with a six-bladed propeller. The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military airlift aircraft is a high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed military transport vehicle capable of carrying payloads up to 169,000lb. Work will take place in Texas and South Dakota. Estimated completion will be in August 2025.
Middle East & Africa
Leidos won a $35.8 million contract modification for continued contractor logistics support services for special mission wing Mi-17/PC-12 aircraft fleets in support of the government of Afghanistan. The PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft. The Mi-17 is a medium twin-turbine helicopter. Work will take place in Maryland. Estimated completion date is November 30, 2020.
The US Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate’s Foreign Military Sales Construction Division awarded a $36.1 million contract to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District to support the beddown of a A-29 Super Tucano wing at an air base in Nigeria. The facilities will support 12 Nigerian Air Force A-29 aircraft, and include the construction of new airfield hot cargo pad, perimeter and security fencing, munitions assembly and storage, small arms storage, a flight annex wing building for simulator training, airfield lighting, and various airfield apron, parking, hangar, and entry control point improvements.
Europe
On August 31, the German Air Force Eurofighter detachment took over the augmenting role of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission from the French Air Force at Ämari Air Base, Estonia. The French Air Force Mirage 2000-5 detachment, deployed at Ämari since last May, handed over its augmenting role in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing to a German Air Force Eurofighter detachment during a ceremony today. The second Air Policing detachment at Ämari takes place under NATO’s assurance measures introduced in 2014 as the Alliance’s response to Russian interventions in Ukraine and is aimed at reassuring eastern Allies and demonstrating NATO’s commitment and resolve.
Asia-Pacific
India’s Ministry of Defense inked a $353.5 million contract with two domestic private-sector companies and a public-sector enterprise for the supply of six regiments’ worth of indigenously developed Pinaka Mk I multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) systems to the Indian Army (IA). The Indian government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) announced on August 31 that the deal includes procuring 114 launchers with automated gun alignment and positioning systems (AGAPSs) and 45 command posts from Tata Power and Larsen & Toubro. A total of 330 high-mobility vehicles – worth a combined INR8.42 billion – will be manufactured by BEML Limited at its Palakkad plant in Kerala, with deliveries expected to be completed within three years. The majority of these vehicles, however, will not be fitted with launchers, but will instead be used to carry additional rockets for the Pinaka systems.
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Watch: THE DRAGON HAS A SOFT UNDERBELLY & THIS CANT BE HIDDEN FROM GENUINE PROBING EYES| UNBIASED ANALYSIS
