Americas
* General Dynamics and US Ordnance will share a $221 million US Army contract to provide the service with M2 machine guns. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will produce and deliver M2 flexible, M2 fixed and M2A1 machine guns by the end of March, 2023. The M2A1 was developed by GD as an upgrade for the existing M2 and M2HB weapons that aimed at simplifying warfighter training by providing fixed headspace and timing, easier barrel changing and decreased muzzle flash.
* Latin American governments may soon be operating the Stryker combat vehicle as the US contemplates selling the vehicle to several modernization efforts. Brazil, Colombia, and Peru are all looking to upgrade their armored fleets and the Stryker is seen as an attractive capability that will help with countering threats from “illicit networks” within their borders. If an agreement is secured, it will be the first foreign military sale of the vehicle. Typically armed with either an M2 .50 caliber machine gun or an MK19 40mm grenade launcher mounted in a Protector remote weapon station, the Army has been investing in upgunning and improving the Stryker vehicle by giving it an optional 30mm cannon for anti-air missions and a v-shaped hull to increase protection from explosives.
Middle East & North Africa
* The Israeli Navy is altering the design of the Sa’ar-6 corvette in order to fit additional Iron Dome interceptors onboard the vessels. By adding a second launcher, each corvette will be able to carry as many as forty Tamir interceptor missiles, allowing vessels to engage an increasing number of disruptive, possibly deadly and inexpensive shore-launched rockets launched by groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Four Sa’ar-6 ships are currently on order with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS); however, the sale is source of a scandal in Israel and are part of an investigation into potential conflicts of interest among those close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
* Another Israeli missile defense system, David’s Sling, has had its initial operating capability (IOC) declared by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a ceremony on April 2. Deliveries of the system’s major components by Israel’s Missile Defense Organization and state-owned Rafael began in early March, followed by integration testing of all system components prior to gaining its IOC. The system was also put through multiple operational simulations as part of the US-Israel Juniper Cobra exercise, a biennial air defense drill aimed at honing interoperability between the two nations.
* Yemeni Houthi rebels fighting a Saudi-backed coalition have unveiled another surface-to-surface ballistic missile derived from the SA-2 missile. Several missiles of the type were used in an attack against Saudi Arabia on March 28 in an attempt to saturate the Patriot air defense systems protecting the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushayt. Dubbed the Qaher-M2, improvements on its previous M1 incarnation include a larger 350kg warhead, a range of 300km, and improved accuracy capable of landing within 5-10 m of its aim point. The latest attack brought the number of Yemeni ballistic missiles that Saudi’s have reportedly shot down with their air force since June 2015 to at least 28.
Europe
* Northrop Grumman will upgrade navigation systems for E-2C Hawkeye aircraft operated by the government of France. Valued at $11 million, the US Navy awarded foreign military sale will see the company service cockpit systems and displays for three French navy-owned aircraft in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards by July 2019. Work on the planes will take place in Melbourne, Fla.; Cuers, France and several additional locations.
Asia Pacific
* South Korea has donated over 200 military vehicles to the Cambodian armed forces as part of an effort to bolster the country’s homeland security assets. 208 trucks and 14 engineering vehicles were handed over at an official ceremony at the Techno Hun Sen Military Technical Institute in the southern province of Kampong Speu. In attendance were several high-ranking officials, including Defense Minister Tea Banh, who said the equipment would be used to crackdown on homegrown threats. This is the third aid package sent by Seoul to Cambodia since 2010 and a fourth package is expected to arrive in July.
* An unnamed Asian customer has ordered targeting and surveillance pods for military aircraft from Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) subsidiary, Elbit Systems. The $200 million contract is a follow-up order for the newest variant of targeting and surveillance pods already used by the country’s air force. Under a separate $82m contract, Elbit will provide their Electro-optic airborne solution, Condor 2, to an Asian country for use in intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.
Today’s Video
* ELTA-ELM-2060P SAR Pod: