Americas
Lockheed Martin won a $10.6 million contract to exercise an option for the Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) efforts. As the developer of the Aegis Combat System, Lockheed Martin continues its 40-year legacy as the AEGIS CSEA for the US Navy. The AEGIS CSEA is responsible for combat system engineering services, including the design, development and life cycle support, for all AEGIS-equipped ships. Work to be performed includes the development and design of engineering and logistics products as well as training to support ship integration, developmental test/operational test events and field technical support will be provided. Work will take place in Moorestown, New Jersey. Expected completion will be by December 2020.
The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $14.9 million modification to procure depot component repair capability for the F-35 hydraulic power generation system and land gear under low rate initial production Lot 11 for the Navy, Air Force and non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants. In November Lockheed won a $184.5 million to establish organic depot level repair capabilities for the F-35 aircraft under a previously awarded low-rate initial production Lot 11 contract. Work will take place in Fort Worth, Texas and Wolverhampton, UK. Expected completion will bet by April 2023.
Middle East & Africa
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s (ADDED’s) Industrial Development Bureau announced that it was launching a new program to encourage investment in the Emirate’s local industry. Called the Abu Dhabi Local Content program, companies will be incentivized to invest in establishing their supply chains in Abu Dhabi when bidding on contracts for the government. ADDED chairman H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa said in a statement that private sector investors are expected to benefit from local products, expertise, and talent. Additionally, companies are being encouraged under the ADLC program to ramp up their productivity and to further add value to locally produced products.
Europe
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the US State Department approved the sale of Excalibur tactical projectiles to the Netherlands. The deal is valued at $40.55 million and is for 199 Excalibur Increment IB M982Al tactical projectiles. The statement added that deal also included technical assistance, training, associated support equipment, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The Dutch munitions procurement would be put in the field alongside conventional artillery units equipped with the German-made PzH2000NL self-propelled howitzer “to provide precision fires capability in order to reduce collateral damage and increase effectiveness in various areas of operation,” according to the DSCA announcement. Raytheon is the prime contractor.
Asia-Pacific
The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale covering support and services for the South Korea’s planned procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, comes with an estimated price tag of $675 million. The Republic of Korea had requested follow-on support and services for its F-35 aircraft, engines, and weapons; publications and technical documentation; support equipment; spare and repair parts; repair and return; test equipment; software delivery and support; pilot flight equipment; personnel training equipment; US Government and contractor technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of program support.
The Thai government has decided not to buy two T-50TH advanced jet trainers made by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The South East Asian country was supposed to buy two jets to increase the fleet to 14 aircraft. The decision to drop the purchase was made so that funds from the defense budget could be allocated to help tackle the COVID-19 crises. The government on April 8 reported 111 new local cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including 42 returnees from Indonesia, raising the total to 2,369. Three more deaths, all of foreigners, took the accumulated toll to 30.
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