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Rapid Fire | Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 05:00 UTC ()
Raytheon Tapped For Tomahawk Upgrade | Islamic State Claims Attack In Mozambique | Myasishchev Completes An-140-100 Modification
Americas
Raytheon Missile Systems won a $493.4 million contract, which provides for recertification and modernization of Tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM) Block IV all-up round missiles to include the integration of navigation and communication kits that result in a modernized TACTOM Block V missile. The Tomahawk is a mature missile weapons system. The current version, called the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk, or TACTOM, has a data link that allows it to switch targets while in flight. It can loiter for hours and change course instantly on command. The US Navy wants to recertify and modernize the missile, extending its service life by 15 years, and resulting in the new Tomahawk Block V series. Work ist expected to be complete in September 2023. Also, Raytheon Missile Systems, is awarded a $147,8 million contract for the full rate production and delivery of 90 Lot 16 Block V Tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM) All Up Round (AUR) Vertical Launch System missiles and other hardware and related services for the Navy. Additionally, this contract procures TACTOM Block IV AUR recertification AGR-4 Spares. Estimated completion date will be in August 2022.
Lockheed Martin won a $137 million contract for the US and UK and provides Strategic Weapon System Trident Fleet Support, Trident II Strategic Systems Programs, Shipboard Integration (SSI) Increment 8, SSI Increment 16, Columbia Class and UK Dreadnought Navigation Subsystem development efforts. Trident ist a submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles. Work will take place in New York, California, Florida and Massachusetts. Expected completion will be by November 2022.
Middle East & Africa
The Islamic State Central Africa Province claimed responsibility for a raid that overran security forces in Mocímboa da Praia in northern Mozambique, highlighting the growing strength of the Islamist insurgency in the north of the country. Mocímboa da Praia is a coastal town about 60 km south of the ‘Gas City’ that is being established on the Afungi peninsula to exploit the vast natural gas reserves recently discovered in Cabo Delgado, a comparatively poor and predominantly Muslim province. National police chief Bernadino Rafael announced at a press conference that “groups of criminals” had attacked the town and that “the defense and security forces are doing everything in their power to restore peace and order”.
Europe
Raytheon won a $104.7 million contract for radar system spare parts for the P-8 aircraft. The P-8A is a a militarized version of the Boeing 737 commercial aircraft. It has an active multi-static and passive acoustic sensor system, inverse synthetic aperture radar, new electronic support measures system, new electro-optical/infrared sensor and a digital magnetic anomaly detector. Work will take place in Texas. Estimated performance completion date is September 8. 2023. Using customers are Navy, United Kingdom, Norway and South Korea. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 Navy working capital funds and Foreign Military Sales funds.
Russian plant Myasishchev has completed the modifications to a An-140-100 for aerial photography work, UAC Russia announced. The aircraft will soon undergo flight testing. The twin-engined aircraft has been adapted with specialized equipment for cartographic work. The modernized aircraft will soon have to undergo checks and begin test flights. A series of comprehensive tests is to be carried out under different conditions on the ground and in the air to confirm the safety and reliability of the structure and the operability of the installed equipment.
Asia-Pacific
Rolls Royce won a $14.3 million order, which provides for organizational level maintenance for AE1107C engines, parts provisioning, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force training as well as a field service representative, sustain engineering, logistics analysis and authorized military overhaul facility support for the government of Japan. The AE 1107C engine is a 7,000shp turboshaft. Work will take place in Indiana and Japan. Work is expected to be complete by June 2023. Foreign Military Sales funds in the full amount will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
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More In-depth Contract News & Updates
The JAS-39 Gripen: Sweden’s 4+ Generation Wild Card
| According to Jane’s, Saab has shifted the focus of its Gripen E/F testing away from basic flight trials towards the aircraft's tactical and sensor suites as the program ramps up ahead of the first upcoming deliveries to Sweden and Brazil. Speaking at Saab's annual Gripen Seminar on March 26, the company's head of the programme, Eddy de la Motte, said that, with flight-characteristic tests having proceeded to plan, the focus is now on validating the aircraft's mission systems. The Gripen E/F is fitted with the Selex ES-05 Raven active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the Selex ES 60 Skyward G-IRST. The company also announced on March 26, that it has performed the first metal cut for the two-seater fighter aircraft Gripen F, marking an important milestone in the program. Gripen F is under development for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and shares the same advanced design and features as Gripen E, but with seat, displays and controls for a second crew member. More »
THAAD: Reach Out and Touch Ballistic Missiles
| Lockheed Martin won a $832.8 million contract modification to exercise an option for the production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors and associated one-shot devices to support the US government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Foreign Military Sales case requirements. The THAAD interceptors and associated one-shot devices will be procured under fixed-price incentive (firm target) contract line items. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) element provides the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) with a globally transportable, rapidly deployable capability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or just outside the atmosphere during their final, or terminal, phase of flight. Work will take place in Texas, California, Alabama and Arkansas. Estimated completion date is April 1, 2026. More »
Have Guns, Will Upgrade: The M109A7 Paladin PIM Self-Propelled Howitzer
| BAE Systems has received a $339 million order from the Army to deliver 48 M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers, the company’s latest deal since the program was approved for full-rate production in February. The M109A7 SPH and M992A3 CAT vehicle set is a vital program enhancement for increased combat capability and sustainment of the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs). The program offers enhanced indirect-fire artillery capabilities to the ABCTs with new technologies for power generation and survivability. More »
Airbus’ A400M Aerial Transport: Delays, Development, and Deployment
| The Spanish Ministry of Defense has utilized an Airbus-owned and operated A400M transport aircraft to deliver face masks to help combat the coronavirus. The airlift, which took place the day prior to Airbus' announcement on 24 March, saw aircraft MSN56 fly "thousands" of masks from the company's Toulouse headquarters in southern France to Getafe Air Base near Madrid, in Spain. As noted by Airbus, the masks which were part of a consignment of two million delivered to Europe from China, are destined for use in the Spanish health system. "This air-bridge will enable the delivery of a significant supply of masks to the Spanish public health network in support of current Covid-19 crisis efforts. This comes on top of donations by Airbus in recent days to provide thousands of masks to hospitals and public services around Europe. The company will continue to provide support with additional flights planned to take place in the coming days in co-ordination with national authorities," the company said in a statement. More »
KC-46A Pegasus Aerial Tanker Completes Firsts
| The FlightSafety Services on a $25 million contract for a multi-country KC-46 aircrew and maintenance simulator training. The contractor will provide KC-46 aircrew and maintenance training to support the U.S. government and Air Force Security Assistance Training international partners' mission objectives. The KC-46 is built as an empty 767 airframe in Everett, Wash., then transferred to the south end of Paine Field, called the Military Delivery Center. The jet's military systems, including the refueling and communications equipment, are installed there. The KC-46 Pegasus is a wide body, multi-role tanker that is capable of carrying a fuel capacity of 212,000 pounds. Work will take place at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Estimated completion will be in September 2026. More »
