Americas
Raytheon has proven that its High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) can pair with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to defeat drones. During a demonstration at White Sands, the NASAMS Fire Distribution Center provided cues to the HELWS which then track, identify and quickly take down drones using its electro-optical/infrared sensors. Nine Group 1 and Group 2 drones were taken down in the demonstration.
Northrop Grumman won a $65.3 million contract modification, which exercises options to provide continued operation, logistics and sustainment engineering support, to include training, supply chain and spares management for Global Hawk peculiar items, peculiar support equipment, and technical publications in support of ensuring the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstrator (BAMS-D) aircraft are mission-capable for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Work will take place in Maryland, California and is expected to be completed in April 2023.
Middle East & Africa
Israel and the United Arab Emirates have completed negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement. The issue was discussed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed at their meeting in Abu Dhabi last December, at which it was agreed to accelerate the contacts ahead of the signing, and at their meeting in Egypt last week, at which the leaders agreed to complete the agreement within days.
Europe
British ship HMS Prince of Wales and frigate HMS Richmond joined Exercise Northern Viking 22. Viking 22 is an exercise practising the defense of the sea routes around Iceland. Among the countries participating in this exercise, which started on April 2, include France, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, the UK and the US. Their combined forces bring several capabilities to the exercise across the air, land and at-sea domains. HMS Prince of Wales has spent much of the past month taking part in Exercise Cold Response in the Arctic.
The US government cleared a potential Foreign Military Sale package for 8 F-16C/D fighters worth up to $1.673 billion to Bulgaria. Transmittal No 22-14 says the package is for four F-16Cs and four F-16Ds. They will be powered by F100-GE-129D engines which Bulgaria is buying 11 with three being spares.
Asia-Pacific
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), together with India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), successfully completed a series of trials that resulted in four successful interceptions by the jointly-developed MRSAM Air and Missile Defense System. The interceptions were carried out in an operational setting against various scenarios, at different interception ranges, interception heights and challenging angles. The systems were operated by India’s Air Force and Navy, alongside DRDO and IAI engineers.
Today’s Video
WATCH: TThis is the $220 Million US Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk Spy Plane
