Mercury Awarded For F-16 Secure Mission Data System | DoS Approved C-130 Sale To Egypt | Thales To Develop Rocket Motor For Australia’s Hypersonic Weapons

Americas

Northrop Grumman won a $10.5 million contract modification, which adds scope to procure 55 Link 16 A-kits, to include 26 each for AH-1Z and UH-1Y production aircraft; two spares for AH-1Z aircraft; and one spare for UH-1Y aircraft, as well as one A-kit test stand for the Navy. The Naval Air Systems Command ist the contracting activity. The United States Marine Corps replaced the two-bladed AH-1W Super Cobra with the AH-1Z Viper, which features a new, four-bladed composite rotor system, performance-matched transmission, four-bladed tail rotor, upgraded landing gear and a fully integrated glass cockpit. The AH-1Z is equipped with an integrated advanced fire control system and the capacity to support multiple weapons configurations. Work will take place in California and is expected to finished by March 2024.

Mercury Mission won a $165 million deal for the F-16 Secure Mission Data System. This award is the result of a sole-source, non-competitive acquisition, Small Business Innovation Research Phase III production follow-on. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center obligated aircraft procurement funds, operations and maintenance funds, and National Guard and reserve equipment appropriation funds worth over $16 million on the award. Work will take place in California and is expected to be finished on January 19, 2028.

Middle East & Africa

The US State Department approved the possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of C-130 aircraft and Air Defense Radar Systems, and related equipment for $2.5 billion. The Government of Egypt has requested to buy three (3) SPS-48 Land Based Radar (LBR) manufactured by L3 Harris, spares, motor generators, repeaters, radomes, technical manuals, site surveys, installation, calibrations, testing, operator training, and maintenance training associated with the SPS-48 LBR; obsolescence replacements of processor, track management system, communication equipment, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), generators, and/or Transmitter Control Unit in fielded SPS-48 LBR systems; updated built-in-testing (BIT) and overhaul of fielded SPS-48 LBR antenna systems; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total program cost is $355 million. Before the sale was announced a group of six House Democrats, including the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., called on the administration to insist that Egypt meet human rights criteria for military transfers.

Europe

An 80-tonne shipment of US anti-tank missiles has arrived in Ukraine. A plane loaded with 300 Javelin missiles worth some $50 million landed in capital Kiev late Tuesday, the third part of a $200million shipment of American military aid that is being sent to help its ally. The US Embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday afternoon reported that 79 tons of security assistance arrived in Kyiv.

Asia-Pacific

China conducted a test flight for a new rocket engine that could power China’s future hypersonic aircraft and near-space plane. Developed by the Laboratory of Spray Combustion and Propulsion under School of Aerospace Engineering at Tsinghua University, successfully conducted a flight test on Monday morning, Global Times reported quoting a China Central Television (CCTV) report.

Thales Australia will start the development of a rocket motor for Australia’s hypersonic weapons. The Australian Hypersonics Research Precinct unveiled by Defence Minister Peter Dutton at Eagle Farm in Brisbane today will accelerate collaboration between Defence, industry, universities and international partners to advance Australian development of hypersonic technology.

Today’s Video

Watch: AH-1Z Viper in Action: Intense Close Air Support Exercise! Day & Night Live Fire