Americas
Crew Training International won a $42.3 million contract modification for the MQ9 Aircrew Training and Courseware Development contract. The MQ-9 Reaper is the primary offensive strike Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for the US Air Force. Reapers can also perform the following missions and tasks: intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, close air support, combat search and rescue, precision strike, buddy-laser, convoy/raid overwatch, route clearance, target development, and terminal air guidance. The Reaper is part of a remotely piloted aircraft system. A fully operational system consists of several sensor/weapon-equipped aircraft, ground control station, Predator Primary Satellite Link, and spare equipment along with operations and maintenance crews for deployed 24-hour missions. The contract modification is for the exercise of option year one. Work will take place at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; March Air Reserve Base, California; and Hancock Air National Guard Base, New York, and is scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2020.
Rheinmetall and Raytheon’s joint venture Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems has submitted a bid for the US Army’s new Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, or OMFV, program. Rheinmetall announced this in a press release on October 1. The team will offer the next-generation Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Lynx is a next-generation, tracked armored fighting vehicle designed to address the critical challenges of the future battlefield. The vehicle provides ample growth capacity to support new technologies over its lifetime, and features lower life-cycle costs. The joint venture will be based in the US and is the result of a 2018 agreement between the two companies. First unveiled in 2016, Rheinmetall’s 37-55 ton Lynx is highly modular tracked armored vehicle typically outfitted with a 30mm or 35mm main cannon, but can also carry a 50mm cannon, one of the objective requirements for the OMFV program.
Middle East & Africa
The US Acquisition Management Center awarded DynCorp International a $68.4 million modification for Air Force Central Command war reserve materiel. The deal provides for the exercise of Option Year Three period of performance for services being provided under the basic contract. Work will take place at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina as well as the Middle Eastern countries Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $68,379,284 are being obligated at the time of award. Estimated completion will be by September 30 next year.
Europe
BAE Systems delivered an advanced Typhoon to the UK Royal Air Force, the company announced in a press release. The delivery of the final Tranche 3 aircraft brings a production run of 160 Typhoons for the RAF to an end that began in 2003. The RAF fields eight Typhoon units with 1 (Fighter), 2 (Army Cooperation), 6, and 9 (Bomber) squadrons based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland; and 3 (Fighter), 11 (Fighter), and 12 (Bomber) squadrons based at RAF Coningsby in England. There is also a permanent detachment located on the Falkland Islands. A ceremony was held at BAE Systems’ final assembly facility at Warton to mark the latest milestone delivery.
Asia-Pacific
The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to Japan of Follow-On Technical Support sustainment and services in support of eight Japan AEGIS Destroyers consisting of four KONGO Class Destroyers, two ATAGO Class Destroyers, two MAYA Class Destroyers and one Japanese Computer Test Site (JCPTS). The estimated value of the deal is $140 million. The sustainment efforts will include AEGIS software updates, system integration and testing, US Government and contractor technical assistance, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $140 million.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that the Philippine Air Force wants to acquire the Mi-17 helicopter from Russia. He told the BusinessMirror that there is no rush to buy the rotocraft now as a technical working group is still studying the issue. The helicopters are offered at the price of $14.7 million apiece. They were reportedly dangled with one free additional chopper through Rosoboronexport, Russia’s official arms exporter. The Mi-17 made its first flight in 1975-1976. Production commenced in 1977. The first export Mi-17 was delivered in 1981. This transport helicopter widely exported both for military and civil operators. “The PAF wants to acquire the Mi-17. There is no contract yet“, Lorenzana said.
Today’s Video
Watch: Philippines’ Super Tucano A 29 – Capabilities
