Americas
* Dynetics has unveiled a design for a new 27kg-class glide munition that contains a warhead larger than ones found in the heavier class AGM-114 Hellfire. The development is part of an $11.6 million contract awarded earlier this month to continue development of small glide munition (SGM) for the US Special Operations Command. By mounting modules for the nose section, tail kit, and wing directly to the warhead case, the small glide munition (SGM) can afford 16kg blast-fragmentation warhead with detonation by direct impact or a pre-selected height above the ground.
* Lockheed Martin is to consider offering its Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) missile to the export market as the US Army has slowed its plans to develop a capability to launch a variety of missiles against rocket, artillery and mortar (RAM) threats under its Integrated Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) program. Designed by Lockheed in order to take out RAM threats in the wake of a high casualty rate in Iraq, the MHTK offers a cost-effective measure against RAMs as well as some unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). According to the company, interest in the munition has been found “everywhere from the Middle East to Europe to Asia”.
Middle East North Africa
* Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is to commence producing the T70 utility helicopter as part of the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP). Based on Sikorsky’s Black Hawk, the license agreement was agreed between the US and Turkish governments and will allow TAI to build and deliver 109 T70 helicopters over the next 10 years. These helicopters will be supplied to six Turkish agencies: the Land Forces, Air Force, Gendarme, Special Forces, National Police, and the Directorate General of Forestry.
* CAE has been awarded $111 million in contracts by the UAE to provide a naval training center and helicopter training simulators. The first contract involves designing and developing a comprehensive training center for the UAE navy which will offer individual, team, whole ship, and joint training capabilities as well as a range of integrated ship simulation-based training suites and maritime aircraft sensor stations. In total, the training center development is worth an estimated $345 million over the next 15 years. The company will also provide the UAE’s Joint Aviation Command with a suite of helicopter simulators and training devices for the NorthStar Aviation 407 Multi-Role Helicopter and the Sikorsky UH-60M Armed Black Hawk.
Europe
* The French special forces have pulled from field trials and put on display a heavily adapted version of its Sherpa vehicle at the Eurosatory Exhibition. Armed with one 12.5mm and three 7.62mm machine guns, and capable of carrying five commandos, modifications to the Sherpa include equipment for intelligence missions. 25 units will be delivered by the end of the year.
Asia Pacific
* Rheinmetall has been wooing the Australian Department of Defense with its new Lynx infantry fighting vehicle. Unveiled during this week’s Eurosatory Exhibition in Australian camouflage, the company is also awaiting a decision on whether its Boxer 8×8 armored personnel carrier has been selected as part of Australia’s Land 400 requirement. The Lynx comes in two tracked versions, the six troop KF31 and the eight troop KF41. Weaponry on the vehicles include a 35mm cannon with a 30 mm option and the KF31 also holds an anti-tank missile launcher holding two Spike LRs (Long Range).
* Next month will see Hanwha Thales commence work on developing the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for South Korea’s KF-X program. In April, the defense section of the Hanwha conglomerate was selected to participate in building the AESA radar to be installed on about 120 fighters that South Korea plans to have developed by the mid-2020s. A working prototype is expected for next June and if it is successful, an upgraded version will be made available in 2018.
* Harris Corp. has been awarded a $1.7 billion foreign military sales contract by the US Army to supply the government of Afghanistan with radios and related parts and services. Under the contract, the company will procure Harris radios, ancillaries, spare parts and services with an estimated completion time of June 15, 2021. This follows last month’s award to supply single-channel ground and airborne radio systems to Morocco under a potential $405 million foreign military sales contract.
Today’s Video
* TAI’s T-129 attack helicopter: