Americas
The US Navy contracted Vigor Marine $14.8 million in support of the USNS Yukon, a Henry J. Kaiser Class Replenishment oiler. The Kaiser Class Ships carry jet fuel, diesel fuel and lubricating oil as well as fresh and frozen provisions, stores, potable water and other items. The ships perform underway replenishment of US Navy warships and aircraft aboard the aircraft carriers. The Yukon was laid in 1991, launched in 1993 and entered service in March 1994. During the 81-calendar day shipyard availability, work will include general services, miscellaneous steel repair, starboard main engine 12K overhaul, various pump overhauls, lifeboats davit repair and maintenance, tank preservation, air compressor groom, steel replacement on level doors, flight deck non-skid renewal and tank deck overhead preservation. Work will take place in Portland, Oregon and is scheduled to be completed by July 15, 2019.
Sikorsky won a $7.3 million contract modification in support of CH-53K low-rate initial production. The CH-53K King Stallion helicopter will serve as a critical land and sea based logistics connector. In April 2006, the Marine Corps signed a contract for 156 CH-53K aircraft valued at $18.8 billion with deliveries to be completed by 2021. The Marine Corps now plans to receive 200 helicopters at a total cost of $25 billion. The modification includes production systems engineering and program management services for calendar year 2019 in support of CH-53K low-rate initial production. Work will take place in Stratford, Connecticut and is scheduled to be finished in February 2020.
Saab won a contract to produce multispectral static camouflage systems for the Canadian Army. The contract contains a Woodland version Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Screen (ULCAS). According to Saab, the ULCAS is an advanced multispectral camouflage net that provides unrivaled signature protection for vehicles and other objects in static positions. ULCAS provides protection against reconnaissance as well as sensors working in relevant parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The multispectral screen makes multiple or single layers of conventional camouflage products for different requirements virtually redundant, says the company. Deliveries of the order are scheduled to take place this year.
The Air Force reportedly halted deliveries of the KC-46 Pegasus tanker once again. The reason for the halt are foreign objects in closed compartments. Just last month the Air Force first stopped deliveries for the same reason. Deliveries resumed several days later after Boeing agreed to an additional inspections plan. The decision to stop the Pegasus delivery once more was made on March 23, but this week inspectors kept identifying additional foreign object debris and other areas, in which Boeing did not meet quality standards. Boeing has so far delivered seven KC-46s to the Air Force. The Pegasus is a widebody, multirole tanker, that is able to refuel allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures.
Middle East & Africa
According to Jane’s, South African defense company Denel will restructure and exit some operations in order to return to profitability after several years of losses. The company plans to ask South African government for $197.2 million recapitalization and to negotiate with the Department of Defense to achieve a sustainable baseload of orders. On March 30, Denel and Airbus reached a mutual agreement to transfer the manufacturing of aircraft parts for the A400M military airlifter out of Denel. The company may close Aerostructures entirely. Denel and Airbus, however, will continue to collaborate in other areas and intend to build, expand and strengthen their strategic industrial partnership.
Lebanon reportedly received six ScanEagle UAS from the US on Tuesday. The $11 million ScanEagle acquisition was one of three Building Partner Capability programs that US officials announced for Lebanon in December 2017. The ScanEagle delivers high-quality imagery for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. It is a small, long-endurance, low-altitude UAV that carries a stabilized electro-optical and infrared camera on a lightweight inertial stabilized turret system, and an integrated communications system having a range of over 62 miles. The drone has a flight endurance of over 20 hours.
Europe
Italian firearms manufacturer Beretta will build new types of guns in Romania. The company will partner with Romania’s Plopeni Mechanical Plant, a subsidiary of the state defense association Romarm. One of the assault weapons produced will be the ARX 160. Both guns will be delivered for the domestic as well as the export market. The ARX 160 is composed of an upper and lower receiver, both manufactured mostly from polymer, and operates through a short-stroke position. It features an ambidextrous safeties, magazine release bolt release and charging handle, as well as the ability to change which side spent casings are ejected, a quick-change barrel which can be removed and replaced in seconds without any tools, Picatinny rails, and foldable telescope stock.
Asia-Pacific
The US State Department approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to India. Under the possible deal, India will receive 24 MH-60R Multi-Mission helicopters for an estimated cost of $2.6 billion. According to a report, the sale will provide India the capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin. The MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopter is equipped for a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search-and-rescue, naval gunfire support, surveillance, communications relay, logistics support and personnel transfer and vertical replenishment.
Today’s Video
Watch: UK to Buy two new autonomous mine-hunter vessels with cutting-edge sonars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ystxmtPvKBU
