Americas
Rolls-Royce Marine North America won a $23.5 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for highly specialized design agent engineering and technical services for the LCS, Freedom variant, machinery plant control and monitoring system, and control area network and monitoring ships control system, DDG-51 class machinery control system, and LSD 41/49 propulsion logic management units. Work will be performed in Walpole, Massachusetts (80%); Mayport, Florida (6%); Norfolk, Virginia (4%); San Diego, California (4%); and various locations outside and across the continental US, each less than 1% (6%). Work will be completed by May 2030. Fiscal 2024 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $149,183 will be obligated for the minimum guarantee. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.
A US Army infantry officer has criticized the service’s new XM7 assault rifle, claiming the Sig Sauer-made weapon falls short as a modern frontline firearm. Chosen alongside the XM250 light machine gun as the army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW), the XM7 is intended to replace the aging M4 automatic rifle. However, Capt. Braden Trent, citing his independent research, argued that the new rifle is inferior to the M4.
Middle East & Africa
Sudan’s army-aligned government severed diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of supplying weapons used by the rival paramilitaries to strike its de facto capital. A series of drones struck positions across Port Sudan Tuesday — including the war-torn country’s main port and only functioning international civilian airport — official sources said, marking the third consecutive day the government’s seat of power has come under attack.
Europe
Nammo has signed a $186 million deal with Sweden to supply small-caliber ammunition. The order is part of a new 10-year framework agreement, the largest contract awarded to the company by Stockholm for the cartridges. Deliveries for the ammunition will take place from 2026 to 2028, ensuring secure deliveries of ammunition to Sweden “at a time when global capacity is scarce.”
Asia-Pacific
Japan has received three F-35 Lightning II aircraft from the US at the Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa. The F-35 jets are fitted with the new TR-3 avionics hardware, consisting of a new display, core processor, and memory modules for faster processing power. Preparations for their integration into the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) included interoperability exercises with Italy and the US last year, with Tokyo deploying the Izumo-class destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184) to the western coast of the US for additional drills.