Americas
The dream of equipping the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship with a high-energy laser weapon system has come to an end. The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has officially shelved its Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL) program due to “technical challenges” encountered during integration and ground testing. The AHEL program aimed to provide a covert, low-collateral-damage option for special operations by disabling enemy communication nodes, light vehicles, and power infrastructure with a powerful laser beam. AFSOC initially planned for airborne testing to begin in January 2024, but those plans never materialized.
Huntington Ingalls Inc. won a $26 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for Ford Class Shore Based Spares-Switchboards and Load Centers. Work will be performed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Newport News, Virginia; and is expected to be completed by March 30, 2026. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Middle East & Africa
The US State Department said it had notified Congress it is ready to sell 50 M1A2 Abrams tanks, generally used for ground warfare, to the small island nation which has tense relations with nearby Iran. “The proposed sale will improve Bahrain’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that can deter adversaries and provide the capability to participate in regional operations with the United States and other US partner nations,” a State Department statement said. Congress can still block the sale, although most military deals go through.
Europe
Germany and Poland have agreed to create a coalition that will supply armored vehicles to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The coalition, which will officially launch on March 26, was revealed by Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The countries will lead partner nations in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in coordinating support for Ukraine’s military capabilities. Italy, Sweden, and the UK are the first confirmed members of the group.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae indigenous fighter jet has achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of an air refueling test on Mar. 19. This achievement comes on the heels of the aircraft’s successful development flight tests earlier this year. The test involved the fifth KF-21 prototype and a Airbus KC-330 Cygnus aerial refueling tanker belonging to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The test aimed to evaluate the KF-21’s air refueling capabilities, focusing on the stability and safety of the connection and disconnection with the tanker, as well as the smooth transfer of fuel. Additionally, the test assessed the impact of potential turbulence generated by the tanker on the KF-21 during the refueling process.
