Americas
Sikorsky won a $29.4 million modification, which exercises an option to provide logistics support analysis, logistics products and product data, technical publications resulting from production engineering changes, diminishing manufacturing sources, material shortages in support of CH-53K King Stallion aircraft production, and fielding for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut; Bohemia, New York; various locations within the continental US (CONUS); and various locations outside the CONUS, and is expected to be completed in December 2024.
Collins Aerospace won a $11,9 modification, which exercises options to procure 40 Modern Pump Housing (MPH) hardware kits, 40 MPH installation kits, and one MPH component kit in support of E-2 and C-2 aircraft propellers for the Navy. Work will be performed in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed in October 2028. Fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,833,046; and fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $82,316, will be obligated at the time of award, $82,316 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Middle East & Africa
Zimbabwe has received a large shipment of military hardware from China, including new armored vehicles, guns, and other equipment. The donation was announced by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who thanked the Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe for the gesture of friendship and cooperation.
Europe
Latvia is further arming itself against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: The Baltic EU and NATO country is acquiring six US multiple rocket launchers of the Himars type with ammunition and equipment. The Ministry of Defense in Riga announced on Wednesday that a purchase agreement worth around $180 million had been signed. Delivery of the first rocket systems is scheduled for 2027.
Lockheed Martin is gearing up to host a 2024 demonstration in Germany to showcase a version of its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, with improved firepower, according to Lockheed executives. The American aerospace giant has partnered with Rheinmetall to offer the GMARS weapon – with the G denoting Germany – as a replacement for the German armed forces’ MARS 2 multiple launch rocket systems. The government has donated a handful of the aging launchers to Ukraine to support that country’s defense against Russia.
Asia-Pacific
Two days after North Korea tested a long-range nuclear missile, the USA, Japan and South Korea demonstrated their strength. The United States sent two B-1B long-range bombers for air force exercises east of the South Korean island of Jeju, the General Staff in Seoul announced on Wednesday. Fighter jets from the three countries also took part in the training. It was the 13th time this year that the United States has sent at least supersonic B-1B conventional bombers to Korea. North Korea said it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Monday that could theoretically reach the USA. The rocket flew more than 1,000 kilometers before crashing into the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan. Leader Kim Jong-un described the test as a warning signal to the USA, which Pyongyang accuses of hostile policies. UN Security Council ban resolutions prohibit North Korea from even testing ballistic missiles of any range. Depending on the design, these can be equipped with a nuclear warhead.
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