Americas
* Sig Sauer has won out against eight other bidders to provide new Modular Handgun Systems for the US Air Force and Army’s Modular Handgun Program. Valued at $580 million, the contract includes the provision of versions of the P320 handgun, accessories and ammunition to replace the M9 handgun currently used by the service. Baretta’s M9 has been the standard sidearm of the Navy, Army, and Air Force since 1985.
* With the trial of US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lin due in March, its been reported that prosecutors are finding it difficult to find any concrete evidence that he is guilty of espionage. The revelations come from a redacted NCIS report obtained by the Navy Times, who cites it as appearing “to reveal a wide gap between the most damning crimes Lin was originally accused of and the evidence prosecutors have in hand now.” Lin was arrested in 2015 on charges that he had sold sensitive information on US weapons programs to Chinese and Taiwanese military officials.
Africa
* The Namibian Armed Forces have ordered a number of new armored patrol vehicles and lightweight remote weapon systems from South African firm Denel. Windheok’s order includes eight mine-resistant 4 x 4 RG32M vehicles in addition to four Self Defense Remotely Operated Weapon (SDROW) weapon stations, which are fitted with a light machine gun and are capable of hitting enemy targets at range of over 1,968 feet away. Delivery of the systems will be completed by this March.
* Florida-based firm Comp Air Aviation will collaborate with the Nigerian Air Force to develop a light utility air platform known as the NAFSA Eagle aircraft. The program will see shared research and development work carried out to produce an aircraft that can be fitted for various purposes, such as transport, search-and-rescue, or light attack roles. Nigeria hopes the contract will help the country become more technologically independent and better equipped to face domestic threats as it modernizes its armed forces. Current domestic threats include the notorious jihadist group Boko Haram in the north and a renewed militancy in the oil-producing Niger Delta region in the south.
Europe
* Saudi news outlet Al Arabiya has reported that Ukrainian authorities have seized a plane allegedly transporting Russian-made anti-tank guided missiles to Iran. A search of the plane’s hold at Kiev’s Zhulyany Airport was conducted when 17 containers onboard were not registered in the flight’s cargo manifesto. Three containers were filled with 9K111 Fagot ATGMs.
* Lockheed Martin has delivered its first shipment of cruise missiles to the Polish Air Force. The AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) were ordered back in 2015 in a $225 million deal to deliver and integrate the munitions on Polish F-16 fighters. Warsaw also plans to have the Extended Range (ER) version of the JASSM delivered as well as an unspecific number of Raytheon’s AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.
* French weapons sales in 2016 hit a new record with contracts inked last year in excess of $21.33 billion. While the total tally has yet to be completed, big ticket deals such as the completion of the arduous Rafale fighter negotiations with India and December’s agreement with ship-builder DCNS to build 12 new submarines for Australia, all helped push sales comfortably passed 2015’s record of $18.2 billion.
Asia Pacific
* The acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-ahn has urged the US to move forward with the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system on the peninsula. Hwang, who was speaking on behalf of impeached President Park Guen-hye, warned that North Korea “has been expanding its nuclear capabilities and developing the technology to create nuclear weapons. They are also miniaturizing nuclear weapons,” and that “right now is not the time to talk to try to resolve North Korea’s nuclear issues.” In return, China has called for the cancellation of THAAD, citing that the system’s radar could penetrate its own territory.
Today’s Video
The Army’s new handgun: P320:
