Americas
Sierra Nevada Co. won a $400 million contract for the Airborne Mission Networking System. The contract provides for Airborne Mission Networking system kits for the MC-130 aircraft, as well as engineering services, contractor logistics support, program management, field service representative support, and over and above. The locations of performance are Centennial, Colorado; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Englewood, Colorado; Hagerstown, Maryland; Robins Air Force Base, Georgia; Eglin AFB, Florida, and Hurlburt Field, Florida. The work is expected to be completed by June 27, 2029. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia, is the contracting activity.
The US Army has received two T901 engines from General Electric (GE) Aerospace for integration and testing aboard the force’s UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The engines were delivered to Sikorsky’s facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, as part of the country’s Improved Turbine Engine Program, an initiative to develop a more durable, fuel-efficient engine for the army’s Black Hawk and Apache aircraft.
Middle East & Africa
Naval Group has handed over the second Gowind-class multi-mission corvette to the UAE Navy in Lorient, western France. The ship, Al Emarat, will house its crew in France in July as Naval Group provides training to ensure the proper integration of the corvette into the force. It is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi by August.
Europe
The Ukrainian Armed Forces has already inducted 480 new weapons and assorted military equipment in the first six months of 2024. The Ministry of Defense said about 60 percent of them were produced by local manufacturers. A majority of the new weapons recently authorized for operation are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for attack and reconnaissance missions.
Asia-Pacific
A recently emerged photo has reignited discussions about Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program and its modernization efforts. The image depicts a JF-17 Thunder Block II aircraft carrying what appears to be a Ra’ad air-launched cruise missile (ALCM), potentially signifying a new chapter for Pakistan’s nuclear delivery capabilities. For decades, Pakistan’s aging Mirage III and Mirage V fighter jets have been believed to be the primary delivery system for the country’s nuclear arsenal. These jets are used to carry gravity bombs and have also been used for test launches of the Ra’ad air-launched cruise missile (ALCM).
