Americas
* Raytheon has been awarded a $291.75 million contract to supply 660 AIM-9X Block II missiles. The deal will see deliveries of the latest Sidewinder upgrade to Taiwan and Norway for the first time, as well as follow-on missiles, training, and support solutions for the USAF, Navy, Army and other Foreign Military Sales customers of the missile. Completion of the contract is expected for March 2019.
Middle East North Africa
* Algeria will see deliveries of its 14 ordered Su-30s in 2017 according to the annual report by manufacturer Irkut. The North African nation already operates 44 of the multi-role fighter with the additional aircraft announced last September. A fan of Russian made hardware, Algeria is also looking at orders for the Su-34 which could see its Air Force procure up to 40 in total.
Europe
* Cracks on two out of three A400Ms operated by the German Air Force have been discovered on their propeller boxes, with Airbus due to replace one of the four engines on the first aircraft this week. The company has declined to say how many of the 27 troop and cargo carriers already delivered to customers have been affected by the issue. Power gearboxes used on the aircraft are manufactured by General Electric’s Italian unit Avio Aero.
* Claims have been made by Russia that its new over the horizon radar is powerful enough to detect the US’s new F-35 stealth fighter. Dubbed Podsolnuh, or Sunflower to anglophones, the radar is capable of detecting sea surface and air objects at a maximum distance of 500 kilometers at different altitudes in line of sight and over the horizon. At present, three Podsolnukh radars are in operation and are located by the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of Japan and the Caspian Sea.
* Poland finally looks set to make a $5 billion deal to acquire the Patriot missile defense system after a breakthrough in discussions with manufacturer Raytheon. Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz made the announcement as the US defense giant capitulated to allow for at least 50% of the money to be spent on works done by Polish plants. Just a few short months ago the deal, started by the previous government, had been seriously questioned by Macierewicz in a bid to secure more offsets to boost Polish manufacturing employment.
* Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s M-345 HET fighter trainer is to be adopted by the Italian Air Force this year as soon as the Italian government releases initial development funding. According to the company, the new aircraft is edging toward first flights this year and may enter service by the end of 2018, preparing pilots to move up to the firm’s advanced M-346 trainer.
Asia Pacific
* Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared the Navy to purchase four more Boeing P-8Is during a recent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Delivery of the $1 billion order is expected over the next three to four years. This adds to eight others ordered in 2010 to enhance the Navy’s Anti-submarinewarfare (ASW) and maritime patrol capabilities.
* France has agreed to provide 50 percent offsets to India as part of its Rafale fighter sale to the Indian Air Force. The Paris concession comes as the government aims to have the fighter’s engine manufacturer, Safran, take over and complete the development of India’s Kaveri turbofan engine. This will see an investment to the tune of $1.1 billion poured into the Kaveri project which engineers say needs 25-30 percent more research to see it to completion.
Today’s Video
* A look at the damage caused to the Taiwanse fishing vessel accidentally struck by RoC Navy anti-ship missile:
