Americas
General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $31.3 million contract modification to provide design and maintenance services for the US Navy’s Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships. The work will include engineering, lifecycle sustainment, and system upgrades for these ships, with operations taking place in San Diego, California. The project is expected to be completed by March 2027. Funding for the contract comes from various Navy budgets. The fiscal 2025 procurement funds amount to $8,513,491, which is 78% of the total. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance funds contribute $1,537,260, or 14%. Additionally, there are $470,000 from fiscal 2023 procurement funds (4%), $367,970 from fiscal 2024 procurement funds (3%), and $48,448 from fiscal 2025 research and development funds (1%). A total of $2,007,260 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division in California is overseeing the contract.
Raytheon Co., based in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been awarded a $13.5 million modification to an existing contract to provide engineering, management, and technical sustainment for V-22 Avionics Systems software. This work supports the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Special Operations Command by maintaining and updating software at on-site V-22 laboratories. The project will be carried out in Indianapolis and is expected to be completed by March 2026. The funding for this contract includes contributions from multiple sources. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance funds amount to $5,490,941 from the Air Force, $2,793,734 from the Navy, and $2,398,054 from Defense-wide activities. Additionally, there are $854,624 in fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement funds from the Navy, $365,883 in fiscal 2025 research and development funds from the Air Force, and $901,925 in fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement funds from the Air Force. Of the total amount, $12,805,161 will be obligated at the time of award, with $10,682,729 set to expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland, is overseeing the contract. This agreement was not competitively bid.
Middle East & Africa
Turkey has signed a strategic agreement with Egypt to locally produce advanced unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in Cairo. Under the deal, the Kader Advanced Industrial Factory will leverage the engineering expertise of Ankara-based defense company Havelsan to manufacture the UGV systems. Havelsan will also support the project by facilitating technology transfer and providing licensing assistance to ensure the successful co-production of these robotic vehicles.
Europe
Italy is considering buying the Japanese Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft to tackle hostile submarines in the Mediterranean, a move which would break an Italian tradition of US aircraft purchases and strengthen ties with Tokyo. “The P-1 is is one of the possible options available,” Italian Air Force chief Luca Goretti told reporters on Friday when asked how Italy aimed to fill gaps in its maritime patrol capability.