Pentagon Releases Defense Strategy | Raytheon Tapped For Jordan’s AFATDS | Bundestag Approves Upgraded AESA For Eurofighters

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $25.1 million contract modification to exercise an option for Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) efforts for the design, development, integration, test and delivery of Advanced Capability Build 20. The Aegis CSEA is responsible for combat system engineering services, including the design, development and life cycle support, for all AEGIS-equipped ships. The deal also includes a replacement or upgrade of combat system computing hardware and associated middleware/firmware. The design development and develops engineering products support ship integration, developmental test and operational test events, develops training and logistics products and provides field technical support for designated Aegis baselines.  The systems engineering, development and integration work under this contract begins with ACB 16 and TI 16, and continues with a future ACB/TI through the period of performance of the contract. Work will take place in Moorestown, New Jersey. Work is expected to be complete by December 2020.

The Pentagon’s strategy for defense in space treats the environment as a warfighting domain, a Defense Department report says. The Defense Space Strategy calls for maintenance of space superiority, support to national, joint and combined operations on earth,and assurance of space stability, the Pentagon said this week. The report identified what officials call four priority lines of effort: building a comprehensive military advantage in space; integration of power in space into the military; shaping the strategic environment; and cooperation with allies, partners, and other US government departments and agencies.

Middle East & Africa

Raytheon won a $29.2 million contract for procurement of Jordan’s Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System. According to the company, the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) is the Fire Support Command and Control (C2) system employed by the US Army and US Marine Corps units to provide automated support for planning, coordinating, controlling and executing fires and effects. AFATDS prioritizes targets received from various sensors and performs attack analysis using situational data combined with commander’s guidance. Work will take place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with an estimated completion date of October 31, 2024.

BAE Systems won an $18.8 million contract modification for the fiscal 2017-2020 production of the MK 38 MOD 3 machine gun system (MGS) and associated spares. The production of the MGS is derived from the application of an ordnance alteration to the MK 38 MOD 1 25mm MGS. Once installed, this version will incorporate two-axis stabilizations, an improved electro-optical sight system, improved multi-function display, a modified main control panel, a new main computing unit, a 7.62mm machine gun and remote control operation. The Mk 38 MGS is a low cost, stabilized self-defense weapon system that dramatically improves ships’ self-defense capabilities in all weather conditions, day or night. Installed aboard 14 different classes of US Navy ships and US Coast Guard cutters, it is used extensively by the US military as well as by NATO forces. Work will take place in Haifa, Israel and Louisville, Kentucky. Estimated completion date will be by November 2021.

Europe

The German Bundestag approved funding to develop, build, and integrate a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system for the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter combat aircraft fleet. The approval by the Bundestag’s Budget Committee will see national sensor-house Hensoldt lead the effort to equip the Luftwaffe’s 79 Tranche 2 and 31 Tranche 3A Eurofighters with an updated AESA (also known as electronically scanned [E-Scan]) radar system. The Eurofighter consortium that comprises Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK is already developing an AESA/E-Scan radar through the Euroradar consortium. This effort, led by Leonardo UK, builds on the aircraft’s existing Captor mechanically scanned (M-Scan) radar, and is known as Captor E-Scan and/or Captor AESA (CAESAR).

Asia-Pacific

A foreign submarine, believed to be from China, was discovered near Amami Oshima Island, Japan on June 18. This prompted Japan to dispatch JS Kaga, a helicopter destroyer carrying anti-submarine warfare helicopters and P-1 aircraft to the area to monitor the underwater vessel. The submarine was observed west of Yokoate Island on June 20 and it passed through a narrow strip of waters between Tokara island chain and Amami Oshima.

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