Americas
Lockheed Martin won a $46 million order by the US Navy, which provides non-recurring engineering for the development, integration, testing, and deployment of the MH-60 aircraft product line system configuration 26 fleet release for all MH-60 air platform variants, to include baseline management integrated management planning, integrated development environment support, support equipment baseline management, software architect, core lab support, problem trouble report legacy support, engineering tools support and development aircraft support for the Navy, Australia, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Norway, and Greece. Work will be performed in Owego, New York, and is expected to be completed by September 2026.
The US Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.1 billion ceiling contract to continue developing the Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system. The defense giant will upgrade the system with the latest security technology to improve the C2BMC’s multi-domain coordinated responses to emerging threats. The ordering period runs from May 2024 through April 2029, with an option to extend through April 2034. Work will take place in Lockheed’s new facility in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as at its Colorado Springs, Colorado, location.
Middle East & Africa
The Department of State has approved the government of Iraq’s request to buy from the US government C-172 and AC/RC-208 aircraft contractor logistics support, training and related equipment through a potential $140 million foreign military sales agreement. Northrop Grumman will serve as the principal contractor in the FMS transaction, which will enable the Middle Eastern country to maintain and sustain its fleet of C-172 and AC/RC-208 planes to meet existing and future threats, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Monday.
Europe
The UK has received 556 tonnes (612 tons) of steel from local industry partners to support the ongoing construction of E-7 Wedgetail facilities in Lossiemouth, Scotland. The handover is part of an $103 million project signed with Boeing in 2023 to build a new center that will house the Royal Air Force’s forthcoming E-7 fleet. Under the Wedgetail hub’s development, Boeing teams with Northern Ireland-based McLaughlin & Harvey for the technical infrastructure works and Scottish firm Simmers Contracts for the associated supply materials.
Thales has secured a follow-on order for seven Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact (GM200 MM/C) radars from the Dutch Ministry of Defense’s procurement agency, COMMIT. This order, with an option for two additional systems, comes after a successful initial acquisition of nine GM200 MM/C radars in 2019. The press release emphasizes the GM200 MM/C’s ability to counter evolving threats on the modern battlefield. Featuring advanced 4D AESA technology and dual-axis multi-beam capabilities, the radar offers enhanced detection and tracking performance for faster, more agile targets. This translates to increased “time-on-target” for operators to effectively assess and respond to incoming threats.
Asia-Pacific
Taiwan successfully test-fired its domestically developed Land Sword II air defense missile system on Apr. 15th from the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung County during Exercise Divine Bow. The test, originally scheduled for April 9th, was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. The live-fire exercise involved the 43rd Artillery Command of the Eighth Army and the 21st Artillery Command of the Sixth Army, showcasing inter-unit collaboration in operating the new air defense system.
