Americas
The US Air Force’s Golden Horde Vanguard program successfully completed the three objectives of the final flight test on May 25. Six Collaborative Small Diameter Bombs (CSDBs) were released during this test with four from one jet and the other two from another F-16. One objective of the test was to expand the coverage of the L3Harris Banshee 2 radio network to six weapons and to include a ground station into the testing. The ground station was able to send an In-Flight Target Update to the weapons while they were in flight, completing the second objective.
The US Army has taken delivery of eight Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) prototypes that will be used in a series of Soldier Touchpoints to further the Army’s Campaign of Learning. The fourth and final RCV (Medium) prototype was delivered to the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), which is based at the Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, on May 13th. GVSC previously took delivery of four RCV (Light) prototypes in December 2020, reports DVIDS, an operation supported by Defense Media Activity (DMA), a US DoD field activity.
Middle East & Africa
The Turkish military has received the sixth F-16 fighter modernized by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). “Structural improvements of the F-16 Block-30 aircraft are in progress. Within the scope of the F-16 Structural Improvement Project, we delivered the sixth F-16 Block-30 aircraft, whose structural improvement was completed, to the Air Force Command,” Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) tweeted.
Europe
Lockheed Martin Overseas won a $30.6 million contract modification, which increases the total cumulative contract value by $30,612,010 from $99,037,697 to $129,649,707. Under this modification, the contractor will provide Poland AAEA engineering and security support, AAEA test and site updates, risk mitigation support, and continued completion effort for the Aegis Ashore Poland site. Aegis Ashore in Poland uses a defensive system almost identical to that used on US Navy Aegis-capable guided-missile destroyers and cruisers at sea. The system is designed to detect, track, engage and destroy ballistic missiles in flight. The complex at Redzikowo will consist of a fire-control radar “deckhouse” with an associated Aegis command, control and communications suite. Separately, it will house several launch modules containing Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors. Work will take place in New Jersey and Poland. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2023.
Saudi F-15s and Hellenic F-16s have commenced exercise Falcon Eye 2 at King Faisal Air Base on May 25. The main objective of “Falcon Eye” exercises is to upgrade the skills of the air, technical and backup crews and reinforce their readiness, in addition to military experiment exchange to the best interest of the two countries.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea can now develop ballistic missiles capable of reaching targets far beyond the Korean Peninsula, following the United States’ approval to lift a 42-year-old restriction on its ally’s missile development program. South Korean and US leaders announced the termination of missile guidelines imposed on Seoul in 1979. At the time, South Korea wanted to acquire American technology to develop its own missiles, and in return, the Asian nation agreed to limit the range of its missiles to 180 kilometers with a maximum payload of 500 kilograms.
Today’s Video
Watch: Turkish F-16 Blok 30 Structural Modernization continues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqJEZNGPNnU
