Americas
Raytheon won a $8 million contract modification for design agent engineering and technical support services for the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, SeaRAM, and Land-based Phalanx Weapon System. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is a fast-reaction terminal defense against low and high-flying, high-speed maneuvering anti-ship missile threats that have penetrated all other defenses. CIWS is an integral element of the Fleet Defense In-Depth concept and the Ship Self-Defense Program. Operating either autonomously or integrated with a combat system, it is an automatic terminal defense weapon system designed to detect, track, engage and destroy anti-ship missile threats penetrating outer defense envelopes. The Raytheon Phalanx weapon system is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled, radar-guided gun that can defeat anti-ship missiles and other close-in threats on land and at sea. Work will take place in Arizona and estimated completion date is January 2022.
Raytheon announced that it finished the first radar antenna for the US Army’s new missile defense sensor. The company won the contract to build the Lower Tier Air Missile Defense Sensor or LTAMDS in October, following a competition to replace the service’s Patriot Air and missile defense system sensor. The radar will become a part of the service’s future Integrated Air and Missile Defense System that will replace the entire Patriot system. Raytheon also manufactures the Patriot. The contract is worth roughly $384 million to deliver six production-representative units of the LTAMDS.
Middle East & Africa
Following a barrage of dozens of rockets fired at Israel, the IDF retaliated with strikes against the terrorist organization south of Damascus and across the Gaza Strip. According to local media the Israel Defense Forces struck a number of PIJ targets south of Damascus, Syria, and across the Gaza Strip on February 24. According to reports, a number of PIJ members were killed in the Syria strike. The IDF Home Front Command issued instructions to cancel school classes today in several towns. Some roads near the Gaza border fence will also be closed.
Europe
Four Norwegian Air Force F-35 fighter aircraft have arrived at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland. The aircraft are now preparing to for the NATO mission providing intercept capabilities for the country. According to NATO, this is the first NATO mission abroad for Norway’s modern fighter aircraft after reaching initial operational capability in November 2019. The Air Policing mission in Iceland is similar to the one carried out by the Norwegian F-16 Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) interceptors from Bodø in northern Norway. Since the beginning of the NATO mission ten Allies (Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States) have manned the regular peacetime deployment.
An agreement to advance construction of a joint advanced combat aircraft program was ceremonially signed by French and German defense ministers. A contract for the first phase of the program to build the main aircraft of the Future Combat Air System was awarded last week. It covers the plane’s propulsion system, data architecture and simulation environment, the German Defense Ministry said. Airbus, MTU, Safran and Dassault are the lead contractors. Plans for the program include development of a Next-Generation Weapon System whose components include remote carrier vehicles known as “swarming drones” and a sixth-generation fighter plane intended to be ready by 2035 to replace current Rafales, Eurofighters and F-18 Hornet planes. The plane and drones are expected to work in tandem.
Asia-Pacific
Boeing won a $93 million contract, which incorporates the next three planned configurations of the operator flight program/system configuration set into the Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 F and EA-18G aircraft training systems. Additionally, this contract procures spares, support equipment, technical manual updates and on-site training. The Australian Air Force has 24 Super Hornets. The F/A-18F Super Hornets are based at Number 1 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley. 11 EA-18G Growlers are operated by No. 6 Squadron based at RAAF Base Amberley. The EA-18G Growler is an electronic attack aircraft. It is capable of disrupting, deceiving or denying a broad range of military electronic systems, including radars and communications. Work will take place in Missouri and Australia and estimated completion will be in February 2025.
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