Americas
The US Navy awarded a $25-million contract to Saab Inc. on September 25, 2020, for two AN/SPN-50(V)1 Shipboard Air Traffic Radars and one Installation and Checkout kit. The next-generation air traffic radar will replace the AN/SPN-43C on board Nimitz CVNs and LHDs. The first ship to install the radar will be USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and followed by future amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA-8). The new radar is based on the Sea Giraffe Agile Multi-Beam (AMB). The first AN/SPN-50(V)1 is scheduled for delivery in September 2021.
A new software upgrade for the MQ-9 will now allow the unmanned air vehicle to carry up to eight AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. Known as the MQ-9 Operational Flight Program 2409, the new upgrade will allow the drone to carry the missiles on the outboard wing stations that were previously reserved for JDAMs and fuel tanks only. Hellfire is an air-to-ground, laser guided, subsonic missile with significant anti-tank capacity. It can also be used as an air-to-air weapon against helicopters or slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft.
Middle East & Africa
The government of Egypt has requested the purchase of a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system from the United States at a cost of $417 million. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on October 1. According to the DSCA, the MDA system includes multi-site acquisition radars (fixed and mobile) with supporting facilities, electrooptical/infrared sensors (fixed, mobile, airborne), radio communications suites, hybrid power generation systems, closed circuit television, power and data distribution units, automatic identification system, and various other surveillance and communications systems; and other related elements of logistical and programme support.
Europe
Boeing won a $59.1 million contract to provide the US and United Kingdom Trident II (D5) maintenance, rebuilding and technical services in support of the Navigation subsystem. The Trident II D5 fleet ballistic missile (FBM) is a three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile developed by Lockheed Martin. The missile can carry multiple independently targeted reentry bodies for a maximum range of over 7,360km. The Trident II D5 submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a successor to Polaris A1, Polaris A2, Polaris A3, Poseidon C3 and Trident I C4 missiles. Work will take place in Washington, Ohio, New York, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and Scotland. Estimated completion dates September 30, 2022. United Kingdom funds in the amount of $893,383 are being obligated on this award.
FLIR Surveillance won a $14.6 million deal with a five-year ordering period for BRITE Star Block II systems, repair actions, data, provision item order, training and engineering services. The deal includes purchases for the Czech Republic under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. FMS Czech Republic funding in the amount of $8,179,077 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of fiscal year. Work will take place in Oregon. Estimated completion will be by September, 2025.
Asia-Pacific
The US Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to South Korea of AIM-9X Block II Tactical Sidewinder Missiles and other related equipment for an estimated cost of $158.1 million. Seoul has requested to buy 115 AIM-9X Block II Tactical Sidewinder missiles; 50 AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); 20 AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missile Guidance Units; and 20 AIM 9X Block II CATM Guidance Units, according to Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s (DSCA) statement Oct 1. Also included are containers, weapon system support, and other elements of programme support. Raytheon Corporation will the principal contractor for this programme. According to DSCA, there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. The AIM-9X Sidewinder missile one of the most advanced infrared-tracking, short-range, air-to-air and surface-to-air missile in the world. It is configured for easy installation on a wide range of modern aircraft, including the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, E/A-18G, F-22 and F-35 fighters.
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