Americas
Northrop Grumman Systems won a $13.3 million contract for a tested and fully qualified design of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). The GBSD will replace the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Weapon system. The deal will provide for the engineering and manufacturing of the GBSD. The GBSD is a US land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system in the early stages of development, slated to replace all 450 Minuteman III missiles in service with the United States Air Force from 2027 onward. Work will take place in Roy, Utah and other locations. Estimated completion will be in February 2029.
Raytheon Technologies’ Pratt & Whitney won a $174.2 million contract modification, which exercises an option for the production and delivery of 14 F135-PW-100 low rate initial production Lot 14 propulsion systems for the Air Force in support of the F-35A conventional take-off and landing aircraft. Pratt & Whitney was awarded a $762.5 million lot F-35 engine production contract in November 2019, when it was sill operating under United Technologies Corp. USAF will use fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds to cover the full obligated amount. Work will take place in Connecticut, Maine, Arizona and Puerto Rico. Expected completion will be in June 2022.
Middle East & Africa
US Strategic Command started B-52 interoperability training missions in support of US Africa Command in North Africa on Monday. According to AFRICOM, the B-52s have participated in an initial mission with four Moroccan F-16s. AFRICOM’s B-52s will also intercept the USS Roosevelt as it simulates a hostile vessel in the southern Mediterranean. On Aug. 28, B-52 Stratofortress bombers flew over 30 NATO countries with allied aircraft, in a ceremonial statement of solidarity, and the next day two Russian Su-27 Flanker pilots intercepted a US Air Force B-52 bomber over international waters in the Black Sea, according to the Air Force.
Europe
Sweden has made a formal offer to Croatia to sell 12 Saab Gripen C/D fighters to satisfy the country’s requirement to replace its Yugoslav era MiG-21s. The government-to-government offer, announced by Saab on 9 September, is part of a wider package that, the manufacturer stated, includes “a tailored made strategic co-operation package” designed to boost Croatia’s defense industry and national security. Croatia had previously opted to acquire surplus Israeli Lockheed Martin F-16C/D ‘Barak’ Fighting Falcons, but this plan was cancelled in January 2019 following US government refusal to grant required third party transfer (TPT) permission over concerns related to bespoke equipment that had been installed on the aircraft by the Israeli Air Force.
Asia-Pacific
The Philippine Air Force is asking the House of Representatives to approve the “unfunded priority project” to buy five C-130Js. Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes told lawmakers that the cost of buying the five planes is $761 million and can be paid in installments. The country is required to pay a 15 percent downpayment in 2021 in order to kick off the purchase. Paredes said with five C-130Js, the service can “transport one rapidly deployable battalion at one stroke.”
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-4 fighter has arrived at its final resting place at Miho air base after making the final flight on September 8. It will be refurbished for public display in Spring of next year.
Today’s Video
Watch: France’s Dassault Rafale Is No Competition for the F-35
