Americas
Lockheed Martin won a $606.8 modification, which procures long lead time materials, parts, components, and efforts in support of maintaining on-time production and delivery of 173, Lot 19, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas; El Segundo, California; Warton, United Kingdom; Cameri, Italy; Orlando, Florida; Nashua, New Hampshire; Baltimore, Maryland; San Diego, California; and various locations outside the continental US, and is expected to be completed in January 2028.
A US Air Force MQ-9 unmanned air vehicle had overran the runway at Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Kanoya Air Base on August 22, the NHK has reported. Video footage captured by NHK cameras situated near the base depicts the sequence of events. Following the unmanned aircraft’s landing, white smoke was seen as the drone slid along the runway’s path, and multiple firefighting vehicles were immediately dispatched to deal with the emergency. It was reported that the MQ-9 had come into contact with ground facilities and came to a stop on the runway’s edge. The incident took place around 11 am local time.
Middle East and Africa
The Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation has approved joint projects to enhance the cyber security of partner nations. Under the initiative, four industry groups will be funded to lead various tasks on bolstering cyber resilience for the US and Israeli governments. “We are proud to announce the first grants for this important program. The selected projects are a result of a comprehensive selection process to answer the cybersecurity needs of both countries,” BIRD Foundation Executive Director Jaron Lotan said.
Europe
The US State Department approved a sale of 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters worth about $12 billion to Poland, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced August 21. The decision comes after the Polish Ministry of National Defence sent a letter of request to the US government nearly a year ago to buy the Boeing-made helicopters for its armed forces. “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the DSCA said in its announcement. “The proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations. Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems an $113 million five-year contract to design and manufacture a secure battlefield communication network for the British armed forces. The tactical Wide Area Network, known as Trinity, will provide secure connectivity to front-line soldiers in contested environments, sustaining battlefield awareness and intelligence sharing.
Asia-Pacific
The US Department of State has approved the possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs) and related equipment to the Australian government for an estimated cost of $975 million. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced August 18 that Canberra has requested to buy 22 HIMARS, along with 60 M30A1 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) alternative warhead (AW) pods with insensitive munitions propulsion system (IMPS), 40 M31A1 GMLRS Unitary (GMLRS-U) high-explosive (HE) pods with IMPS, 66 M30A2 extended range (ER)-GMLRS AW pods, and 24 M31A2 ER GMLRS-U HE pods.
Today’s Video
WATCH: Poland Purchases 96 Apache Helicopters, Launches Black Hawk Tender
