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Rapid Fire | Thursday, December 2, 2021, 05:00 UTC ()
Boeing Tapped For F-18 Landing Gear System | IAI Supplies Israeli AF With Air Combat Training Systems | Saab And Nordic Shelter Ink MoU For GLSDB
Americas
Boeing won an $85 million deal for overhaul of 40 ship-sets for the F-18 landing gear system, which includes a left side and right side main landing gear and nose landing gear assembly in support of the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircrafts. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the Navy’s highest priority aviation modernization program. It is replacing Navy F/A-18C/D Hornet combat aircraft. The Growler is a derivative of the two-seat F/A-18 Hornet, the US Navy’s maritime strike aircraft. Its primary missions are are electronic attack (EA) and suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD), particularly at the start and ongoing early stages of hostilities. Work will take place in Canada, Missouri, California and Washington.
Raytheon Technologies won $447.6 million modification, which provides for the procurement of recurring sustainment support activities including maintenance of support equipment, common program activities, unique and common base recurring sustainment, repair of repairables, field service representatives, common replenishment spares, conventional take-off and landing/carrier variant F-135 unique maintenance services, and short take-off and landing F-135 unique services in support of the F-35 Lightning II F135 propulsion system for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Air National Guard, non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Estimated completion date is in May 2022.
Middle East & Africa
Israel Aerospace Industries or IAI supplied the Israeli Air Force with an innovative air combat training system that enables debriefing of flight training exercises to be completed faster than before. The unique air combat maneuvering instrumentation (ACMI)-based analysis system was upgraded ahead of the Blue Flag 2021 exercise that took place in Israel in October 2021, the largest and most advanced air exercise ever held in the country, with participation from air forces including Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Greece, India, United States and more.
Europe
Saab has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nammo and Nordic Shelter to support the ongoing GLSDB (Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb) campaign. The new agreement was announced during a signing 23 November 2021 in Oslo, Norway. Nammo will contribute with its expertise in rocket motor development and production as part of the GLSDB propulsion sub-system. Nordic Shelter brings the knowledge and experience needed for the development and production of a modular GLSDB launcher, based on a purpose built 20-foot ISO-container.
Asia-Pacific
The first-ever military exercise involving Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) opened in Indonesia. According to Tass, the ceremony was attended by Russian Ambassador to ASEAN Alexander Ivanov and Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobyeva.
Ajai Shukla from the Business Standard reports that the Philippines is keen to acquire Dhruv helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). Manila is said to be looking at the maritime variant that is in use with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. The information first came up in September when HAL published its annual report. In it, the aerospace firm said it had received interest from the Philippines Coast Guard for procurement of 7 ALH and 8 Do-228 aircraft through Government of India Line of Credit.
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From VH-71 to VXX: the Future of US Presidential Helicopters
| According to Bloomberg News, a Pentagon testing report dated September 28 for the VH-92A Marine One helicopter says the helicopter is not effective for “contingency operation mission,” which means the rotor craft cannot be used during an emergency. For administrative missions, the helicopter is still operational effective, the internal memo said. More »
France’s Rafale
| Croatian Republic placed an order for a dozen Rafale fighters previously operated by the French Air Force to replace its aging MiG-21s. The selection of the Rafale by Croatia was first announced on May 28. Two contracts for the acquisition of Rafales and associated logistics support were signed at a ceremony held on November 25 in Zagreb. The ceremony was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of the Croatian Republic Andrej Plenkovi?, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly and CEO of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier. More »
CH-53K: The U.S. Marines’ HLR Helicopter Program
| Sikorsky won a $31.2 million modification, which exercises an option to provide non-recurring engineering to include, investigation, systems engineering support, risk analysis and integration development in support of the Data Transfer Unit and Defensive Electronic Countermeasure System replacement within the CH-53K Super Stallion production aircraft. The Super Stallion can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. It will also be used to carry external cargo loads. The aircraft can be operated from austere and remote forward operating bases. Work will take place in Connecticut, Maryland, Iowa, Texas, Florida and Vermont. Estimated completion will be in March 2025. More »
Aging Aircraft: USAF F-15 Fleet Sees Renewed Interest
| Boeing won a $16.3 million modification for GOLDesp enterprise resource planning, Delta support equipment sustainment and survival radios sustainment in support of the 36 F-15QA aircraft. Work will be performed in Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and is expected to be completed by November 30, 2024. Qatar signed a deal to buy 36 F-15QAs in June 2017, and in April 2020 the first jet took its maiden flight. More »
E-2D Hawkeye: The Navy’s New AWACS
| Rolls-Royce won a $23.3 million deal, which provides for the depot repair of T56-A-427A engines installed on E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the Navy. The Allison T56 is a single shaft, modular design military turboprop with a 14-stage axial flow compressor driven by a four-stage turbine. The E-2D is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft. Work will take place in Texas, Canada and Indiana. Estimated completion date is in November 2022. More »
