Americas
Sikorsky won a $443 million modification for the Black Hawk helicopter program. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2027. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $442,956,422 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin won a $174.6 million modification, which exercises an option to procure Lot 17 helmet mounted display requirements in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, F-35 Cooperative Program Partners, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in February 2028.
Middle East & Africa
Thales has been awarded a significant contract for the supply of a cutting-edge GM400? long-range radar system, accompanied by a comprehensive station infrastructure, to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The contract was officially endorsed on December 8, 2023, in the presence of the Defense Ministers of both Malaysia and France. The selection of Thales’ GM400? radar system follows a series of successful live tests that underscored its exceptional performance in enhancing air surveillance and air defense capabilities. Boasting five times more processing power, a commendable increase in the instrumented range by over 10% (515 km), and incorporating advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, the GM400? radar stands out as a technological powerhouse. Deployed in more than 20 nations, this field-proven radar system is globally recognized for its excellence and is poised to provide the Royal Malaysian Air Force with unparalleled situational awareness.
Europe
BAE Systems has partnered with Babcock and Rheinmetall to offer the Archer artillery system to replace the British Army’s AS90 armored self-propelled howitzer. The partnership supports the UK Ministry of Defence’s Mobiles Fires Platform program, which seeks modernized 155-millimeter capabilities.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea plans to spend $262.8 billion in the next five years to bolster its defense capabilities amid, according to the country’s Defense Ministry. The ministry announced its 2024-2028 midterm defense plan Tuesday, noting an increase of 17.3 trillion Korean won from last year’s version. The budgetary adjustment, which follows North Korea’s Nov. 21 launch of a reconnaissance satellite, calls for improved military capabilities, efforts to maintain troop levels and the modernization of defense facilities.
Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) has completed the development of the latest variant of its Sky Sword air-to-air missile. Known as the Sky Sword III, the new weapon boasts a maximum operational range of 150 kilometers (93 miles).
