Americas
Raytheon Missiles & Defense Naval Surface & Undersea Systems won a $34 million contract action for production and engineering support for common parts related to the MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo. This contract will purchase parts for the Navy. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island; and Poulsbo, Washington, and is expected to be completed by July 2027. Fiscal 2023 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,158,630; and fiscal 2024 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,822,612 (40%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management, with one offer received. Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Keyport, Washington, is the contracting activity.
General Dynamics Land Systems won a $7,6 million modification for multiple items used in the Abrams Main Battle Tank, Stryker Family of Vehicles, Light Armored Vehicle Family of Vehicles, Cougar, Buffalo and RG-31. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/definite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Florida, with a July 29, 2026, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2023 through 2026 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio.
Middle East & Africa
US Navy helicopters sank three Houthi boats in a tense encounter after they attempted to board a Singapore-flagged container ship. The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and US-backed coalition, raising concerns about potential wider repercussions. The Maersk Hangzhou, owned by Danish shipping giant Maersk, was initially targeted on Saturday around 5:30 PM GMT. Maersk confirmed the vessel was “hit by an unknown object” but stressed there was “no indication of fire on board.” Despite sustaining no reported damage, the attack prompted Maersk to temporarily suspend operations through the Red Sea.
Europe
Ukraine has taken delivery of several tactical vehicles from Japan to support its ground operations against Russian forces. According to the Japanese Embassy in Ukraine, the unnamed vehicles were handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces late last year. Tokyo announced in May 2023 that it would donate about 100 military vehicles to the war-ravaged nation to show “as much support as we can.”
Italy’s Ministry of Defence has inked a contract with shipbuilder T. Mariotti to construct two new ships for auxiliary maritime operations. The Coastal Motor Transport and Lighthouse Servicing (MTC/MTF) ships will be used for solid and liquid transport missions, replacing the Italian Navy’s Gorgona- and Ponza-class transport and logistics ships from the 1980s. The vessels will also be used in maintenance and maritime signaling operations for the navy’s Lighthouses Service.
Asia-Pacific
A team of Chinese scientists has concluded that a high-speed kinetic energy weapon can take out advanced armored vehicles, such as the US-operated M1 Abrams tank, in just one shot. According to a South China Morning Post report, Huang Jie and fellow researchers at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center recently conducted simulations to determine the extent of damage of kinetic weapons.
