Americas
Llamas Plastics won a $14.2 million deal for V-22 windscreens. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft. The aircraft operates as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. The nacelles rotate 90° forward once airborne, converting the aircraft into a turboprop aircraft. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion date is October 28, 2026.
Raytheon won a $48.2 million contract modification to exercise options for DDG 1000 class engineering support, material and other direct costs in support of the engineering efforts. Developed under the DD(X) destroyer program, the Zumwalt class destroyer (DDG 1000) is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission surface combatants tailored for land attack and littoral dominance with capabilities that defeat current and projected threats. Work will take place in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Expected completion date is in May 2022.
Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia has been cleared by the US Department of State to replenish its stock of Raytheon AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). The approval covers up to 280 AIM-120C-7/C-8-variant missiles (the notification did not provide definite numbers for each version), plus spares, support, and training for an estimated $650 million.
Europe
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has signed an agreement with Slovakian aircraft repair company LOTN to export the FA-50 light combat aircraft to Europe. The agreement was signed during President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Europe on November 3. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Seoul is in talks to sell 10 FA-50 to Slovakia to replace the latter’s L-39 jets. The deal is worth up to $500 million.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea and Indonesia will hold what could be the final round of negotiations over the latter’s payment of dues in the $7.4 billion KF-X project next week. Officials from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will meet with negotiators from Indonesia’s defense ministry, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Airmen from Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s 401st Tactical Airlift Squadron visited Yokota air base on November 4 to examine the possibility of using the runway there for assault training. The runway at Yokota has markings to replicate an austere airfield for pilots to practice for assault take-off and landing. The 401st Tactical Airlift Squadron is not able to do that at their home base at Komaki Air Base.
Today’s Video
Watch: KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle Light Combat Aircraft
