Americas
Thomas Instrument won a $43.7 million deal for overhaul of the B-2 weapons bay door power drive unit. This contract provides for the overhaul of five units per year for five years. Work will be performed in Brookshire, Texas, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2029. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity.
Boeing demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming of a digital F/A-18 Super Hornet and MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aircraft. An upgraded, maturing Boeing software enabled an aircraft pilot to command the drone for the first time and refuel the aircraft using existing communications links. Previous refueling demonstrations were controlled by air pilots sitting on an aircraft carrier. “MQ-25 is designed to typically receive commands from air vehicle pilots on an aircraft carrier,” F/A-18 New Product Development lead Alex Ewing explained.
Middle East & Africa
According to Military Africa, the ongoing civil war in Sudan has become a breeding ground for innovative solutions to overcome the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. As the conflict intensifies, warring factions are constantly seeking new methods to gain the upper hand. One such development is the remarkable adoption of Starlink by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Starlink, a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, has become an integral part of the RSF’s military operations. Starlink terminals are currently deployed across all active battlefronts, providing a vital communication backbone for the RSF. These terminals, easily recognizable by their flat, pizza-box-sized design, are often mounted on ubiquitous Toyota pickup trucks used by the RSF. In some cases, these terminals are camouflaged to avoid detection by Sudanese Army drones.
Europe
A detachment of the Finnish Air Force’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets will participate in NATO’s upcoming Air Shielding Mission in Romania from June to July. The first-time contingent will be composed of up to eight planes and 100 airmen from the Karelia Air Command in Siilinjärvi, Finland. The fleet will operate alongside UK Royal Air Force Typhoons, increasing the alliance’s presence on NATO’s eastern flank, joining quick-reaction alert duties, patrol flights, and air exercises.
Asia-Pacific
New Zealand’s foreign minister on Wednesday ruled out Wellington quickly joining a landmark defense technology pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States but lampooned critics as “out of date.” In a speech sketching how the underpinnings of New Zealand’s independent-minded foreign policy have “seismically shifted,” Winston Peters said it would be “irresponsible” of the government not to explore deeper defense cooperation with allies.
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