Americas
General Electric won a $215 million modification for the procurement of 48 F414-GE-400 install engines and engine devices for the Navy Super Hornet F/A-18 warfare aircraft. The F414-GE-400 combines the proven reliability, maintainability and operability of its successful F404 predecessor with advanced technologies to provide the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with up to 35 percent more thrust and significant improvements in aircraft performance, survivability and payload. F414-GE-400 engines also power Boeing’s EA18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, also operational with the United States Navy. Work will take place in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Kentucky. Expected completion will be by August 2022.
Raytheon Missile Systems won a $17.1 million contract modification to exercise options in support of the fiscal 2020 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block 2 low rate initial production requirements. The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile designed and manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems. The missile is currently in service with the US Navy and some of the 12 NATO Sea Sparrow consortium nations. It offers naval combatants reliable self-defense and high fire-power. The missile can be launched from surface ships to destroy threats that include high speed, highly maneuvering anti-ship cruise missiles, low-velocity air threats (LVATs), high-diving threats and surface-based targets. Work is expected to be complete by March 2023.
Middle East & Africa
Raytheon Missile Systems won a $146.1 million contract for Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2/2A Guided Missile Round Pack and spare replacement components. This contract combines purchases for the US Navy, Germany as well as the governments of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Turkey. The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile. It was intended originally and used primarily as a point-defense weapon against antiship cruise missiles. Work is expected to be complete by June 2025.
The US Navy awarded Marvin Engineering a $25.3 million modification to procure 428 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G BRU-32 ejector bomb racks for the Navy and the government of Kuwait. The BRU-32 bomb rack is a gas operated ejector rack with dual ejector pistons. It weighs 76 pounds, incorporate 14- and 30-inch suspension hooks and can accommodate single stores or multiple carriage racks. The bomb rack features an electrical fuze safety interlock, automatic sway bracing and store sensing switches. Work will take place in Inglewood, California. Expected completion will be by July 2023.
Europe
Airbus has temporarily closed its operations in Spain in line with a royal decree limiting movement and industrial activity in the country. The company announced this on March, 30. The move will see all non-essential work at its Spanish facilities cease until April 9 as the country’s government battles the coronavirus. In terms of Airbus’ industrial footprint in Spain, this will most dramatically affect the Airbus Defence and Space (DS) CN235, C295 and A400M assembly lines in Seville in the south of the country, and the A300 MultiRole Tanker Transport (MRTT) conversion facility in Getafe, near Madrid. In addition, Airbus Helicopters’ NH90 and Tiger facilities will be similarly affected.
Asia-Pacific
Boeing won a $1.6 billion modification, which procures 18 Lot 11 P-8A maritime aircraft for the Navy, the government of New Zealand and the Republic of Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force acquired the aircraft through the Foreign Military Sales process and will receive the same P-8A Poseidon variant designed and produced for the US Navy. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is expected to begin receiving aircraft in 2022 and the Republic of Korea Navy is expected to begin receiving aircraft in 2023. The P-8 is a long-range multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. It is a military derivative of the Boeing 737 Next-Generation airplane. The procurement also includes a segregable effort consisting of unknown obsolescence for Lot 11, Class 1 change assessment and obsolescence monitoring as well as non-recurring engineering for the Republic of Korea. Work will take place in Washington, California, Arizona, Alabama and Texas. Estimated completion will be by October 2023.
Today’s Video
Watch: U.S MARINE’s ‘THE ‘BLACK KNIGHTS’ TRANSITION FROM F/A-18A++ HORNET TO F35C LIGHTNING II !
