Americas
Raytheon won a $29.9 million order in support of the V-22 Osprey. Th deal provides procurement of the Software Support Activity (SSA) systems and software engineering, avionics integration and testing, software testing, avionics acquisition support, and SSA operations to include classified and unclassified software laboratories, configuration and data management as well as release of avionic software products and related systems. The V-22 Osprey is a multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft jointly developed by Bell helicopters and Boeing after the failure of Operation eagle claw during the Iran Hostage crisis in 1980. It is designed with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities after a requirement for a new long range, High speed, Vertical take off aircraft. Raytheon will perform work under the awarded deal in Indianapolis, Indiana and estimated completion date is in December 2021.
The US Navy contracted Boeing a $23.7 million modification for engineering, logistics, and program management of the Super Hornet and Growler aircraft. The awarded deal is for reducing fleet out of reporting rates and maintenance planning. Boeing’s F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets are twin-engine multirole fighters, which are based on the F/A-18 Hornet. The single-seat F/A-18/E and the two-seat F/A-18/F fly greater ranges with heavier payloads, have more powerful engines and provide greater survivability than their predecessor. The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a derivative of the combat-proven two-seat F/A-18 Hornet, It is an airborne electronic attack aircraft which operates from either an aircraft carrier or from land-bases. The Growler aircraft has 11 weapon stations for carrying electronic mission systems and weapons and can then be used to carry out conventional strike missions when the requirements for EA and SEAD sorties are reduced. Boeing will perform work under the contract modification in St. Louis, Missouri and estimated completion is in September 2020.
Raytheon announced that the US Air Force used the company’s GPS Next-Generation Operational Control System, known as GPS OCX, to support the launch of its second GPS III satellite into space. The ground system will spend 10 days maneuvering the satellite into its final orbit, demonstrating GPS OCX’s ability to simultaneously support multiple GPS III spacecraft on-orbit throughout the checkout and calibration process. GPS III SV02 is the newest generation of GPS satellites designed and built to deliver positioning, navigation and timing information apparently with three times better accuracy, and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capability than its predecessor. Prime contractor is Lockheed Martin. The GPS III satellite, also called Magellan, was launched on August 22 after years of delays. United Launch Alliance used a Delta IV rocket to launch the second Global Positioning System III (GPS III) satellite for the US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
Middle East & Africa
Vietnam and South Africa have agreed to strengthen their defense ties, with a view to undertaking joint development and production activities. The countries consider this as a strategic mechanism to promote the bilateral defense partnership and the two countries’ friendship and cooperation, local reports say. The agreement was reportedly reached between Vietnam’s Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and South Africa’s Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula during their talks in Hanoi on August 22. This accord will facilitate deepened engagement in the defense industry, supported by technology transfers from South Africa to Vietnam. Such collaboration would follow agreed defense exports from South Africa to Vietnam.
Europe
General Dynamics won a $64.8 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract in support of the UK’s second hull of Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarines, nuclear, recently named as HMS Valiant, and the UK Software Facility. The Dreadnought Class of submarines are set to gradually replace the four Vanguard Class boats from the early 2030s. Construction on HMS Dreadnought, the lead ship in the class, started in October 2016. The submersibles are 152.9m (501ft) long, displace 17,200 tonnes and will be armed with Trident II D5 missiles. The ships will be fitted with a new lighting system which can imitate night and day, making it easier for crew to get used to normal life after three months submerged. The HMS Valiant is the second Royal Navy Dreadnought Class submarine. Under the new contract, work will take place in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and estimated completion date is August 22, 2025.
Asia-Pacific
Swedish company Saab said in a press release that it has received an order from the Australian Army to extend the support of their Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) and Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) systems until 2022. Under the contract Saab will provide support for the range of systems forming the GBAD and CRAM solutions, including the Giraffe Agile Multi-Beam (AMB) radars and RBS-70 very short-range air defense weapon system. The contract value is approximately $19.2 million. The contract is intended to ensure the availability of the GBAD and C-RAM systems. The company’s Australian subsidiary upgraded the army’s short-range air defense system with the identification friend or foe Mode 5 standard. The company integrated Giraffe AMB radar into the system and upgraded the missile firing posts and the tactical command and control system.
The DoS approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States or TECRO for the 66 F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft as well as related equipment and support. The deal is valued at $8 billion. US lawmakers have been criticizing the Trump administration for delaying the vote to avoid jeopardizing US trade negotiations with China. China has already expressed fears that the latest Lockheed Martin F-16s have the capacity to get past Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) defenses and attack the mainland. It has been lobbying forcefully against the sale to Taiwan which it considers a renegade province. Beijing regards Taiwan as a part of China awaiting reunification, but the island is self-ruled and is a close ally of the United States. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced in a statement on August 21 hat it is grateful for the US government’s decision to approve the sale of new-build Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70 multirole combat aircraft.
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