Americas
Rolls-Royce won a $97 million delivery order for C-130J propulsion long-term sustainment. This order provides funding for Option IV. The Lockheed Martin C-130 is the US Air Force’s principal tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft. The C-130J Hercules is the latest model, featuring a glass cockpit, digital avionics and a new propulsion system with a six-bladed propeller. Work will take place in Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and is expected to be completed on January 31, 2022.
Northrop Grumman Systems won a $7.8 million task order under the ground subsystems sustainment contract for the Minuteman III Launch Control Center Block Upgrade production for the exercise of Option Year One of Malmstrom Wing I. The LGM-30G Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, is an element of the nation’s strategic deterrent forces under the control of the Air Force Global Strike Command. Work will take place in Ogden, Utah and expected completion date is August 15, 2022.
Middle East & Africa
Israel Aerospace Industries announced that an unnamed country in Asia has signed a contract to lease two of its Heron MK II unmanned air vehicles. Moshe Levy, IAI executive vice president and general manager of the Military Aircraft Group, says the aircraft will “will operate in the terrestrial configuration and will fulfill various tasks, including border protection.”
The White House ordered a pause on arms sales last week, including major sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Antony Blinken, the new Secretary of State for the administration of President Joe Biden called for a review of recent arms sales of some of the most advanced aircraft and munitions made in the United States. At issue are sales of 50 F-35 fighter planes and 18 Reaper drones to the UAE, and precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia. The agreements came late in the administration of former President Donald Trump and although Congress questioned whether the sales could conflict with Israel’s legally guaranteed “qualitative military edge” of equipment, legislators took no action.
Europe
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a five-year extension of the New START nuclear arms treaty with the United States on Friday. The signature came a week before the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was set to expire. The agreement caps the two countries’ deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and heavy bombers to 700 each; deployed warlords on deployed ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers to 1,550 each; and deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and heavy bombers to 800 each. It was first implemented in 2010.
Asia-Pacific
Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has completed the last Su-30MKI that India has contracted from Russia and the 222th aircraft will be delivered to the end user this month. India ordered 272 Su-30MKIs and 50 were produced in Russia. “One aircraft is certified and inducted for BrahMos modification. Another aircraft has been produced and planned to be certified by February end,” a HAL official said. The delivery formalities for acceptance by the customer are being finalized.
Today’s Video
Watch: Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI Exercise Pitch Black 2018