Americas
Rockwell Collins, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $13.7 million contract to help maintain and improve the communication systems on KC-135 aircraft. The project includes adding a second radio to the planes for better communication. The work will take place in Cedar Rapids and at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and is expected to be finished by March 22, 2027. The Air Force is providing $7.35 million from its 2023 research and development budget to start the project. The contract is managed by the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center’s Legacy Tanker Branch at Tinker Air Force Base.
The US Navy’s USS Toledo (SSN 769) has returned to service after its eleven-month engineering overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, Virginia. Refurbishment and modernization efforts such as mast and periscope installation, as well as engine room tests, were conducted to extend its operational life. Maintenance for the nuclear-powered attack submarine was carried out by 50 employees across shipyard production shops.
Middle East & Africa
South Korea and the UAE have inked a letter of intent for comprehensive cooperation on the development and operation of Seoul’s KF-21 Boramae fighters. The agreement was signed by the Republic of Korea Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Young-su and UAE Air Force (UAEAF) Major General Rashid Mohammed al-Shamsi, allowing UAEAF personnel to take part in future exercises and air drills involving the aircraft. Delegates from the UAEAF also visited Korea Aerospace Industries’ facilities to inspect the KF-21 production line.
Europe
Spain will rapidly increase its military spending rate this year to reach the 2% of GDP target set for NATO members, the country’s prime minister announced on Tuesday. Spain so far has been among the alliance’s lowest defense spenders, with just 1.3% of the country’s total economic power going to the military.
Asia-Pacific
The Republic of China Army has showcased its newly adopted tactical ground system, the M1167 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), in Taichung. Compared to earlier Humvee versions, this platform is designed with enhanced firepower assistance and armor to enable force protection while maintaining constant combat availability on the modern battlefield. Among the vehicle’s main features is an “up-armored” TOW (tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided) anti-tank missile capability for extended range and accuracy.