Americas
The Navy awarded AAI Corp. Hunt Valley with a $10.9 million contract modification to services for the Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) unmanned surface vehicle platform. The UISS is a mine countermeasure system designed to influence sweeping of magnetic and acoustic mines. The system enables the littoral combat ship to perform its mine warfare sweep mission. The UISS program is expected to meet the Navy’s need for a rapid, wide-area coverage mine clearance capability to neutralize magnetic/acoustic influence mines. AAI Corporation is an operating unit of Textron Systems. In 2014, Textron Systems received a $33.8 million contract to provide its Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV) for the US Navy’s Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program. Work for the new deal will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and Slidell, Louisiana and is scheduled to be completed by September 2019.
The Air Force tapped Raytheon Missile Systems with a $21 million modification for advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) system improvement program software architecture and design risk reduction efforts to counter threats. AMRAAM is an active radar-guided intercept missile with inherent electronic protection capabilities for air-to-air applications against massed penetration aircraft. The Air Force and Navy AMRAAM is one of the US’ most sophisticated radar-guided, air-to-air missiles, and one of the world’s most advanced all-weather, all-environment, medium-range, air-to-air missiles for engaging enemy aircraft and missiles from beyond visual ranges. Work for the deal will be performed in Tucson, Arizona.
Lockheed Martin won a deal worth $131.6 million for sustainment engineering services for the C-5 military transport aircraft. The C-5 is the Air Force’s largest plain and features a nose cargo door and a kneeling nose gear, which allow for drive-on capability. The aircraft can haul twice as much cargo as any other airlifter. It has been in service for the US Air Force since 1969 and supported military operations in all major conflicts. The Air Force currently owns 52 Super Galaxy aircraft, which are only assigned to four units worldwide. Contracting activity is the Air Force Life Cycle Management. Work is scheduled to be finished by January 25, 2019.
Middle East & Africa
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and businessman Avihai Stolero offered Aeronautics to open negotiations for the acquisition of all the company’s shares by means of a reverse triangular merger via a company jointly owned by Rafael and Stolero. The offer is valued at $231 million, making it twice as high as their 117 million offer rejected by Aeronautics in August. Earlier this month, Aeronautics announced it has signed a five-year partnership deal with Rafael to collaborate on the development, production, marketing, and distribution of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. Aeronautics has over 45 defense, military, and homeland security customers worldwide.
Europe
The Missile Defense Agency contracted Lockheed Martin with a $23 million sole-source, fixed-price incentive and cost-plus modification to provide Poland Aegis Ashore Engineering Agent (AAEA) engineering and security support. The modification includes AAEA test and site updates, risk mitigation support, and continued completion effort for the Aegis Ashore Poland site. Aegis Ashore is the land-based component of the Aegis ballistic missile defense system developed originally for deployment at sea aboard specially equipped U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. Work is expected to be completed by December 2020.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea will receive the first F-35A stealth fighters in March. The jets have been tested at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The first two jets are scheduled to be combat-deployed in April or May and 10 other jets are supposed to be ready for deployment by the end of this year. South Korea approved a deal in September 2014 to acquire 40 F-35As for about $6.8 billion. The F-35A has radar-evading capabilities and can perform ground-attack and air-superiority missions with several precision weapons.
The Indian Navy successfully tested locally developed Sahayak air-droppable containers off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea. The Sahayak Containers are support containers designed to enhance operational logistics capability by facilitating the supply of spares and stores to ships that are deployed more than 2,000 km from the coast. The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory and the Aeronautical Development Establishment developed these cylindrical containers. A test payload of 50 kg, dropped in the container, descended to the sea with the help of a parachute.
Today’s Video
Watch: America’s F-15E Strike Eagle vs. FA-18EF Super Hornet (Who Wins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzisVAdXtWI
