Northrop Grumman To Develop F-16 AESA Radars | DoS Approved AT-6C FMS To Tunisia | Japan Developing New ASM
Americas
Northrop Grumman Systems won a $262.3 million modification for Active Electronically Scanned Array radars of Air Force F-16 aircraft. The modification is for the exercise of options to include 15 engineering, manufacturing and development and 90 production radars, as well as associated support equipment and spares. Northrop won $1 billion in December 2019 to work on F-16 radar systems. The contract funds development and production of up to 372 AESA radars. These radars are computer-controlled antennae in which the beam of radio waves can be steered to point in different directions without physically moving the antenna. Work will take place in Maryland and estimated completion will be by December 2022.
Lockheed Martin won a $141.7 million contract modification, which provides for the stand-up of organic level repair capabilities for the combat aircraft F-35 communications, navigation and information system. The F-35 is considered the most advanced fighter aircraft in the sky. This week Hill AFB, Utah, celebrated the recognition of its 388th and 419th Fighter Wings of F-35 fighter planes reaching Full Warfighting Capability. The Department of Defense’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal requests $11.4 billion for 79 Joint Strike Fighters, whose cost Lockheed said it has brought down to less than $80 million per plane.
Middle East & Africa
The State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Tunisia of four AT-6C Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft and related equipment. The deal is valued at $325.8 million. Supporting equipment for the package includes MAU-169 Computer Control Groups; MXU-1006/B Air Foil Groups (AFG); MK81 250 LB GP bombs; BDU-50s (MK-82 filled inert); MXU-650 C/B AFG, GBU-12; guidance section, guided bombs, MAU-209, GBU-10,12,16; MK-82 500lb bombs; FMU-152 A/B fuses; MAU-169H(D-2)/B Computer Control Groups; and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems. The AT-6 platform will support Tunisia’s ability to respond to and engage threats in multiple areas across the country. The prime contractor would be Textron Aviation Defense.
Bell Helicopter Textron won an $8.4 million contract modification, which provides for the production and delivery of a fully assembled flight training device for an AH-1Z attack helicopter, excluding software integration, for the government of Bahrain. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $6,259,796 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Based on the Vietnam War-era AH-1 Cobra, the AH-1Z Viper is the Marine Corps’ primary rotor-wing ground attack aircraft. The AH-1Z attack helicopter provides rotary wing close air support, anti-armor, armed escort, armed/visual reconnaissance and fire support coordination capabilities under day/night and adverse weather conditions. Work will take place in Texas and is expected to be finished in December 2020.
Europe
British company Meggitt PLC has signed a contract with Bell Textron Inc for an estimated value of $73 million to supply composite deicing propeller rotor blankets, heated spinners, fairings and pendulums to the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey. The V-22 Osprey is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. According to Meggitt, its electro-thermal ice protection components are constructed from composite material with embedded thermal technology. The company has recently also signed a six year contract with the US Defense Logistics Agency for the supply of fuel bladders. The firm is to supply fuel bladders to the F/A-18 Super Hornet, V-22 Osprey and the CH/MH-53 Super Stallion. This contract has a potential lifetime value of $130 million and deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2020.
Asia-Pacific
Japan is developing a new air-launched anti-ship missile (ASM) designed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA). The spokesperson confirmed the missile development to Jane’s.Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was awarded a contract to develop the weapon system and ATLA has allocated around $85 million from fiscal years 2017 to 2021 research and development work. The missile is reportedly an improved variant of the Type-12 ground-launched ASM currently in service with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF).
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