Raytheon completes Preliminary Design Preview for DeepStrike | MQ-9 Reaper Sustainment for the UK | Malaysia launches new Military VHF Radio
Americas
Raytheon won a $9.1 million contract modification for the DDG 1000 ship class. The deal exercises options for integrated logistics support and engineering services. The DDG 1000 or USS Zumwalt is a guided missile destroyer designed to fulfill volume power and precision strike requirements. According to a report updated in October 2018, the Zumwalt ship incorporates a significant number of new technologies, including an integrated electric-drive propulsion system and automation technologies enabling its reduced-sized crew. The DDG 1000 combat systems provide offensive, distributed and precision firepower and long ranges in support of forces ashore, while incorporating signature reduction, active and passive self-defense systems and enhanced survivability features, the Department of Defense stated on Tuesday. Just recently, the USS Zumwalt left for British Columbia, Canada to link with the Royal Canadian Air Force and showcase the US Navy’s newest class of destroyers. However, as Bloomberg reports, the Navy’s $23 billion program to build the DDG 1000 destroyers comes with a 5 year delay. The first ship of the class is scheduled for a September delivery, which is more than five years later than originally scheduled and 10 years after construction began. The ship isn’t expected to have an initial combat capability until September 2021, which is at least three years later than planned. Raytheon’s will perform work under the current modification in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and is expecting to be finished by March 2020.
The US Air Force contracted Sierra Nevada Corp. $317 million for the Precision Strike Package program. The Precision Strike Package is a modular kit developed in order to provide close air support, armed reconnaissance, and armed over-watch capability for Special Operations Forces C-130s. The system consists of precision guided munitions, a medium-caliber gun, electro-optical/infrared sensors, special operations forces-specific communications equipment, and an integrated fire control and mission management system. The deal specifically provides contractor logistics support for the Precision Strike Package in support of the AC-130W and AC-130J. The AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance ground attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport fixed wing aircraft. The AC-130W Stinger, formerly known as the MC-130W Dragon Spear is a modified C-130H used by the Air Force for close air support, air interdiction and force protection. The AC-130J Ghostrider is a modified version of the MC-130J aircraft and is supposed to replace the legacy AC-130H/U aircraft of the US Air Force. Lockheed Martin will deliver 37 AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft to the Air Force Special Operations Command by 2025. Sierra Nevada will perform work for the Precision Strike Package program at Cannon Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field and expects completion by September 30, 2026.
Raytheon announced on Tuesday, that the company along with the US Army completed a successful preliminary design preview for the DeepStrike surface-to-surface missile. This will move the weapon closer toward its first flight scheduled for later this year. The DeepStrike missile was developed for the Army’s Precision Strike Missile requirement. According to Raytheon, the missile will offer low-cost solution, double the firepower, defeat fixed land targets at 300-499 kilometers, improve lethality and target set over current systems and provide flexibility in the future battlespace. The DeepStrike missile will be compatible with two launch systems of the US Army, the M270 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) and M142 high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS). Previous program milestones include the successful integration of DeepStrike’s new launch pod missile container into the Army’s M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS launchers. During the Preliminary Design Review, the Army evaluated every aspect of the new missile’s design, from its advanced propulsion system and innovative lethality package to its guidance system.
Middle East & Africa
The Israeli Ministry of Defense awarded Elbit Systems a contract to provide Automatic SPH Gun Systems to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The deal for the fully automatic self-propelled howitzer gun systems is worth approximately $125 million. According to Elbit Systems the new automatic howitzer is capable of automatic loading and laying, it automatically selects the required projectile, propellant and fuze, loads them and lays the gun to optimally engage targets. The new system is supposed to enhance the effectiveness of the artillery formation of the IDF while reducing the number of soldiers in each platform and significantly reduce life-cycle costs. The Ministry of Defense and Elbit Systems want various US companies including Elbit Systems of America, LLC, to work under an additional contract for the howitzer gun systems program. The current contract also includes the supply of training simulators and will be performed over a 12-year period.
Europe
Raytheon won a deal to offer APY-10 Radar Systems for Poseidon Jets from the Naval Air Systems Command. The contract modification is worth $39.7 million and the company will acquire three APY-10 Radar System production kits for the US Navy as well as four for the UK government and five for the government of Norway. The task is to support the production of Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft’s Lot 10 with Raytheon’s AN/APY-10 state-of-the-art maritime, littoral and overland surveillance radar. The AN/APY-10 is fully integrated into Boeing’s Mission Control and Display System for control, display and data distribution on the Poseidon. It is also the only system of its type to provide a dedicated short exposure submarine periscope detection mode as well as ultra-high resolution imaging modes for maritime and overland operations, delivering uncompromised performance in every operational environment. The P8-A Poseidon is a long-range, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. In 2015 Raytheon won a multi-year contract worth $153 million from the US Navy to manufacture 53 AN/APY-10 maritime, littoral and overland surveillance radars for its fleet of the Poseidon. Last year, the UK procured eight APY-10 radar systems for their P-8As. Work under the contract modification is scheduled to be completed in September 2022. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $39,718,809 will be obligated at time of award.
The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center contracted General Atomics Aeronautical Systems $9.2 million for the UK MQ-9 Reaper contractor logistics support effort. The deal provides for ongoing sustainment of the UK MQ-9 fleet. The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted medium-altitude, long endurance aircraft designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance, and attack missions. The UK purchased two MQ-9A Reapers in 2006 and a third one in 2007. The same year, the drones began operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan. By May 2011, five Reapers were in operation and a further five on order. This week, MAG Aerospace won $11.4 million for ongoing sustainment, management, development and network administration of the UK MQ-9 Reaper Operations Centers. The Netherlands also procured four MQ-9 systems from the US Air Force at the beginning of the week. General Atomics will perform work under the current contract at multiple stateside and international locations, and is expecting to be finished by June 30, 2019. The award involves 100 percent foreign military sales to the government of the United Kingdom.
Asia-Pacific
Thales announced on Tuesday, that Malaysia will launch the second generation of its military VHF radio with Sapura Thales Electronics (STE). STE is a joint venture with Sapura and Thales. The so called TRC 5200 is fully indigenous to Malaysia. According to Thales, the first-generation of handheld radios was a huge commercial success with over 5,000 units sold worldwide to countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa and South America. As reported by local media, the company is eyeing the Middle East and North Africa as potential markets for this latest military tactical VHF radio.
The Australian government wants to purchase the second of a planned fleet of at least six Northrop Grumman Triton MQ-4C Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Jane’s reports. The second platform will be acquired through a co-operative program with the US Navy and is supposed to compliment the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon. The Triton is a high-altitude long endurance aircraft that will be used for maritime patrol and other surveillance roles. Supporting missions up to 24 hours, the Triton is equipped with a sensor suite that provides a 360-degree view of its surroundings for over 2000 nautical miles. The first UAV is scheduled to be introduced into service in mid-2023 with all six planned to be delivered by late 2025 and based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia.
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