Navy Declares Initial Operational Capability For JPALS | Slovenia To Receive JLTV | US Approves Turkey T129 Sale To Philippines
Americas
Northrop Grumman Systems won a $75.5 million contract for the Global Hawk RQ-4 UAV. The contractor will provide multi-country aircrew and maintenance training consisting of program management support, courseware modification and development, pilot training, sensor operator training, and airframe and ground maintenance training to support the US government and Air Force Security Assistance Training international partners’ mission objectives. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds will be obligated at the time of task order award. The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system with an integrated sensor suite that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, capability worldwide.
According to a press release, the Navy declared initial operational capability for the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) earlier this month. JPALS has been supporting F-35B deployments on LH-class amphibious assault ships with early operational capability since 2016 and can now provide the precision navigation and landing capability for F-35s on aircraft carriers as well, says the Navy.
Middle East & Africa
Senior House Democrats appeared to back away from a plan to urge the Biden administration to delay a $735 million US weapons sale to Israel despite opposition from some of the committee’s members. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said he decided against requesting a delay after the Biden administration agreed to hold an “informational session” with lawmakers, likely for May 19. “The purpose of the letter initially was to make sure that there’s dialogue, conversation,” Meeks said according to CNN.
Europe
Slovenia became the second Balkan state to receive the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) manufactured by American company Oshkosh. The Slovenian Defense Ministry announced that 38 of the vehicles arrived at the port of Koper on May 11. The only other Balkan country that has taken delivery of the tactical vehicles is Montenegro, which received its first 4×4 JLTVs in October 2020. Oshkosh is delivering the vehicles to Slovenia under a contract worth 32 million euros that was signed in November 2018.
Asia-Pacific
The US State Department has given the green light for Turkey to export the T129 attack helicopter to Philippines, Serdar Demir, marketing and communications director of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) said. Philippines has an order for six attack helicopters but the sale has been delayed as approval from the United States is necessary for the CTS800-4A turboshaft engine which is made by LHTEC (Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company), a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Honeywell.
Noise measurements at Mageshima, Japan started on May 16 as Tokyo evaluates the possibility of nearby Iwojima island as a landing practice site for US Navy aircraft. The Defense Ministry is planning to relocate the US military’s landing practice site from Iwoto island, also known as Iwojima, south of Tokyo, to Mageshima island, which lies off Nishinoomote city.
Today’s Video
Watch: “Who wins?”How the Humvee Compares to the New Oshkosh JLTV
