Americas
Northrop Grumman won an $18.7 million contract for active electronically scanned array radars of Air Force F-16 aircraft. The contract modification is for definitization of the Radio Frequency Target Generator, additional support equipment and software development to support Phase Two. The F-16 Fighting Falcon has been the mainstay of the Air Force aerial combat fleet. With over 1,000 F-16s in service, the platform has been adapted to complete a number of missions, including air-to-air fighting, ground attack and electronic warfare. Work will take place in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. Estimated completion will bet by April 2023.
General Electric won a $37.1 million contract for support of the T700 series engine program. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. The General Electric T700 and CT7 are a family of turboshaft and turboprop engines in the 1,500–3,000 shp (1,100–2,200 kW) class. The T700 turboshaft engines can be found on 15 different types of rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft, including the Sikorsky Black Hawk, the Boeing AH-64 Apache, as well as the Bell UH-1Y Huey. Work location and funding will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2025.
Middle East & Africa
Despite its distance from Israel, Iran is the most dangerous country in the Middle East, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi said. “Iran has become the most dangerous country in the Middle East,” Kohavi says at a ceremony marking Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate, an entirely new position on the General Staff, which will focus principally on Israel’s fight against Iran. “It’s made significant progress with its nuclear program, but the nuclear [threat] is no longer the only threat. Iran also possesses conventional weapons,” Kochavi said, adding that while “it is located in the third circle, but is highly effective in influencing the first and second circle,” he said referring to financing terror groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.
Europe
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced that the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) has been delivered from Norway. Lithuania signed a contract for two National Advanced Surface-to-Air System (NASAMS) air defense missile batteries on October 26, 2017. The $127 million contract includes training and a logistical maintenance package. Airmen from the Lithuanian Air Force started testing the NASAMS at the Kongsberg factory in Norway in October 2019.
Asia-Pacific
An executive from Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) marketing department told reporters that the aerospace company is in talks with the Philippines on the purchase of KT-1 basic trainer. KAI had organized a promotional event held in Sacheon on June 17 whereby diplomats from the 16 countries attended. The focus of the event was to promote the KUH-1 helicopter.
Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has recently tested its Wing Loong-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as a communications base station for use during disasters. The aircraft was installed with communication equipment for support mobile signals and flown up to an altitude of 16,000 ft. The signal coverage was over 50 square km, a domestic record for an airborne base station. AVIC says when paired with satellite communication (SATCOM) equipment, the platform is capable of providing space-air-ground emergency communication support during disasters for up to 35 hours.
Today’s Video
Watch: NEW ADVANCED BOMB ‘STORMBREAKER’ SUCCESSFULLY TESTED FROM F/A-18E/F SUPER HORNET !
