Americas
United Technologies, Pratt & Whitney won a $522 million contract modification, which provides performance based logistics sustainment in support of the F-35 Lightning II F135 propulsion system for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants and foreign military sales (FMS) customers. Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system powers all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft – the F-35A CTOL (Conventional Takeoff and Landing), F-35B STOVL (Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing) and F-35C CV (Carrier Variant). It is a two-spool afterburning turbofan engine. The combat-proven F135 delivers more than 40,000lb of thrust and delivers advances in safety, design, performance, and reliability. Work will take place in Connecticut, Oklahoma, Italy, Florida, California, Arizona and South Carolina. Estimated completion is in November 2020.
The US Army contracted Lockheed Martin with a $7.6 million modification for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight Pilot Night Vision Sensor Systems, subcomponent production and technical services for the Apache Attack Helicopter. The Apache is designed to survive heavy attack. It can zero in on specific targets, day or night, even in terrible weather. The helicopter’s night vision sensors work on the forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system, which detects the infrared light released by heated objects. The FLIR sensor has three fields-of-view, a multi-target tracker, multiple-code laser spot tracking, and internal boresight. Work locations and relevant funding will be determined with each order. Expected completion date is January 1, 2023.
Middle East & Africa
Mobile Land Systems (MLS) applied for intellectual property design protection in Saudi Arabia and its home jurisdiction of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Falcon V-Hull on its Viper 4×4 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle. MLS developed Viper with internal research and development funding to meet potential domestic and export requirements. The low-profile vehicle has a modular interior design and includes the all-welded monocoque steel Falcon V-Hull, which was designed and developed by engineering teams in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The hull can be supplied with ballistic protection from NATO STANAG 4569 Levels 1 to 4, and blast protection to STANAG 4569 Level 3a/2b, depending on customer requirements.
Europe
According to Jane’s MBDA Deutschland is pitching an air-launched version of its Enforcer missile to Germany and beyond. Speaking at the Berlin Security Conference 2019 in the German capital, Head of Sales and Marketing, Guido Brendler, said that Enforcer Air, as the particular variant of the normally shoulder-launched missile is known, is being focused at the German customer in particular, but could also be offered to the wider international market. The Enforcer could be carried by helicopters, tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and medium-latitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs in particular. While the baseline-Enforcer is shoulder-launched, the Enforcer Air could be drop-launched, tube-launched, or rail-launched depending on the host platform and the customer requirement.
BAE System announced that it received deals to deliver $71 million in aircraft survivability equipment to several US allies via US Army Foreign Military Sales. The Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to purchase the AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System CMWS and associated equipment to protect their aircraft and crews from sophisticated threats. The AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) is a infrared-guided missile warning system available for fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The CMWS is designed for a wide variety of aircraft, and its line-replaceable units and customizable algorithms allow it to adapt to emerging threats. The third-generation system combines hostile fire indication and data recording with its core missile warning capabilities in a single unit – providing protection from more diverse threats and enabling detailed post-mission analysis.
Asia-Pacific
Two former AH-1S from Jordan have arrived in the Philippines on November 26, the country’s national security adviser has confirmed. Hermogenes Esperon says the rotorcraft are being assembled and will be operational by next month. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed the donation of the helicopters in 2018 in remarks reported by the official Philippine government news wire service. The Philippine Air Force has allotted $900.000 for maintenance and spare parts for the aircraft’s night targeting system. PAF pilots and a team of maintenance crew were also sent to Jordan to train and familiarize themselves with flying and handling the attack helicopters. The AH-1 Cobra is a two-blade, single-engine attack helicopter. The Royal Jordanian Air Force has at least one squadron of Cobras currently in service, and is supposed to have used them in combat in Iraq and Syria.
Today’s Video
Watch: SAAB DAMEN Team for the Dutch Walrus Submarine Replacement Program
