Americas
Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has delivered its 5,000th Hawk medium-lift helicopter to the US armed forces. The chopper is a variant of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter deployed for international military and civilian operations. “For more than 40 years the Black Hawk has remarkably supported Soldiers in every major contingency operation the Army has executed,” US Army Program Executive Office Aviation Helicopter Project Manager Col. Calvin Lane stated.
Epirus has been awarded a $66.1-million contract to supply its Leonidas high-power microwave weapon to the US Army. The counter-drone weapon can neutralize targets by zapping their electronics, making them lose contact with their operators. The Leonidas outperformed six other counter-drone systems during a series of test events to win the sole-source contract.
Middle East & Africa
Israel has submitted a formal request to the US government for 25 F-15EX fighter aircraft, according to industry sources who spoke to Breaking Defense. An official letter of request was reportedly sent by the Israeli Ministry of Defense last week, marking the first step in the foreign military sale process. Jerusalem will now have to wait for an initial decision by the US before quantity and pricing are discussed.
The US and Israel have begun Exercise Juniper Oak 23.2 in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea amid increased tension with Iran, featuring more than 140 aircraft including strategic bombers, fighter jets, and refueling aircraft. The major live-fire drill, running from January 23-27, also includes Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and 12 naval vessels, the US Central Command said.
Europe
Finland’s defense ministry said Wednesday the country had issued the first commercial export license for military material to Turkey since 2019 — a key demand for Ankara to approve Helsinki’s NATO bid. Riikka Pitkanen, special adviser at the ministry, told AFP that the export license granted concerned steel that would be used for armor. Finland had suspended new licenses for military exports to Turkey in October 2019 due to Turkey’s military operation in Syria.
Asia-Pacific
The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 5 Squadron put on a three-ship P-3K2 formation flight on January 24 to mark the end of an era as the fleet prepares to retire at the end of the month. The flight took off from RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai and flew over a variety of locations, including Waikato, Manawat?, Napier, Tauranga, Coromandel Coast, Great Barrier Island and Whang?rei. Spectators were treated to close formation fly-pasts over Ohakea, Wellington and Auckland harbors.
Today’s Video
WATCH: RNZAF Orion P3 Farewell Fly past of Wellington Harbour – Te Whanganui a Tara
