Americas
* Raytheon has received a $327.1 million US Navy contract for the low-rate production of the Air and Missile Defense Radar system. Known as the AMDR or AN/SPY-6(V), the order calls for the procurement of three initial systems, including the equipment and engineering systems needed to produce, and will be mounted on Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. The Air and Missile Defense Radar is part of the ship’s AEGIS system, and is 30 times more sensitive than the search radars on the Flight II Arleigh Burkes. Work is expected to be completed by October 2020.
* The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $64.6 million contract—with the potential to increase to $94.1 million—for engineering on the Common Compartment Strategic Weapons System. The contract includes testing of a special test vehicle, maintenance and the integration of the Trident D5 II SLBM to the system. Britain will contribute $1.9 million to the program in order to continue their collaboration on the Trident missile, despite the issue causing some controversy there over the missile’s cost and questions as to whether Britain should keep it’s undersea nuclear deterrent. However, with future upgrades, the Trident II is likely to remain both Washington and London’s main SLBM onboard both the US Ohio-class and the British Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines until 2040.
Middle East & North Africa
* Israeli UAV manufacturer Meteor Aerospace has secured its first customer for its Impact 700 system. Measuring at 7m (22.9ft) in length and with a 12m wingspan, the UAV has an endurance of 24 hours and is currently being test-flown. While the buyer of the Impact 700 is unknown, the firm’s main investor, Hezi Bezalel, is known to be very active in Africa. The firm also announced that they are working on a larger version of the UAV, named the Impact 1300, with company president Itzhak Nissan stating that the new design “will be a much bigger UAV in the MALE [medium-altitude, long-endurance] category.”
Africa
* The US State Department has cleared the sale of 12 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light attack helicopters to the government of Kenya. At an estimated cost of $253 million, the sale includes the provision of 24 HMP 400 machine gun pod systems, 24 M260 rocket launcher systems, and assorted ammunition. Also provided are communications and navigation equipment, contractor logistics support, training, US Government technical assistance, airframe and weapon system spare parts support, Contractor Field Service Representative (CFSR) support, and Special Assigned Airlift Mission (SAAM) flight delivery support. The sale goes towards helping Kenya modernize its rotorcraft fleet in order to improve border security, undertake operations against the Somalian jihadist group, al-Shabaab, and as a troop contributor to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The helicopter has been used for a similar mission scope by the Afghan Air Force.
Europe
* BAE Systems Hägglunds, the Swedish subsidiary of BAE, has entered into partnership with Czech firm Ray Services to deliver parts for the Mjölner mortar system to the Swedish armed forces. The move comes as BAE looks to boost its cooperation with Czech firms as part of preparation to bid for the Czech government’s replacement of its aging BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The team of several companies led by BAE and including firm VOP CZ will come together to offer the CV90 IFV as part of Prague’s competition. The CV90 has over 1200 units in service in seven countries, including several NATO members.
* Slovakia is waiting on US Congress to approve the potential sale of nine Bell 429 light utility helicopters, after the sale was cleared by the US State Department. Valued at an estimated $150 million, the DSCA said the order would enable Slovakia to “strengthen its homeland defence and deter regional threats.” Also included in the sale are WESCAM MX-10 cameras, training, spare parts, and logistical support, mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, special tools and test equipment, ground support equipment, airframe and engine spare parts, technical data, publications, maintenance work order/electronic change proposals, technical assistance, repair and return, quality assurance team, and transportation of aircraft. At present, the Slovak air force’s rotorcraft inventory includes three Mil Mi-2s and 14 Mi-17s, with nine Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks already on order.
Asia Pacific
* South Korea has announced that it has started construction of its second Dokdo-class Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) amphibious assault ship. The milestone was marked by a keel-laying ceremony at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. in Busan, and it is expected that the vessel will be launched in April of next year. It will be delivered to the South Korean Navy in 2020, following sea trials. Seoul’s undertaking in constructing such vessels has been noted as its most major naval transport project in over a decade.
* The Australian Royal Navy has commissioned the first of two Austal-built Cape-class patrol boats. Constructed in a $47.4 million contract, Austal says the ADV Fourcroy was officially named in a recent ceremony at a base in Western Australia and will help “secure and protect Australia’s extensive maritime borders, with eight operated by the Australian Border Force and two to be operated by the RAN.” Austal are currently preparing a bid in collaboration with German designer Fassmer to design and build 12 new Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Australian Navy.
Today’s Video
* South Korea’s Dokdo-class Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) amphibious assault ship:
https://youtu.be/REbuQ9mkgHI