Americas
The University of Dayton Research Institute won a $28.5 million firm-fixed price contract for studies of the F-15 sustainment engineering. The contract includes systems/structural engineering field and programmed depot maintenance support, reliability and maintainability analysis and aircraft structural integrity program capability development and sustainment. The F-15 Eagle is the Air Force’s primary fighter jet aircraft and intercept platform. The F-15 has electronic systems and weaponry to detect, acquire, track and attack enemy aircraft while operating in friendly or enemy-controlled airspace. The weapons and flight control systems are designed so one person can safely and effectively perform air-to-air combat. Work, performed at Dayton, will approximately be completed by June 28, 2029.
The Navy tapped Lockheed Martin with $175 million for engineering, testing, product support and ancillary support to update the current Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) components and systems required to achieve objective requirements in the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Increment 1 Capability Description Document. LRASM is a precision-guided, anti-ship standoff missile based on the successful Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER). According to the company, it is designed to detect and destroy specific targets within groups of ships by employing advanced technologies that reduce dependence on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, network links and GPS navigation in electronic warfare environments. Lockheed will perform work in various places within the continental US and is expected to be finished in November 2022.
Middle East & Africa
The US Air Force awarded AAR Supply Chain a $210 million ceiling contract for contractor logistics support for the Afghanistan Air Force. The contract will provide the Afghanistan Air Force with full C-130H contractor logistics support to include maintenance and repair, as well as on the job training for local Afghan nationals. The C-130H Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It features a loading ramp and door in the tail that can accommodate palletized loads, vehicles and troops. The aircraft can airdrop up to 42,000 pound loads or land on short, unimproved airstrips in forward combat zones. Work will take place in Kabul, Afghanistan, and is expected to be completed by January 29, 2025.
Europe
The Serbian Military Technical Institute announced that two new versions of the Malyutka anti-tank guided weapon are to enter service with the Serbian Army by the end of the year, Jane’s reports. The Malyutka or AT-3 Sagger was designed in the early 60s in the Soviet Union. The AT-3 was first deployed in combat by the North Vietnamese Army in 1972, having been supplied to them by the Soviet Union. During the battle for the port of Cua Viet in January 1973, 26 kills of ARVN M48 Patton tanks and M113 APCs were attributed to the system. It is a wire guided missile and its maximum range is 3 km. The first new version to enter Serbian service will be the Malyutka 2F, which is fitted with a thermobaric warhead. The second will be the Malyutka 2T, which is fitted with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead. Serbia has deployed earlier versions of these ATGWs on a dedicated BOV 4×4 armored personnel carrier (APC) and BVP M80 series infantry fighting vehicles (IFV).
Asia-Pacific
The Philippines will take delivery of the A-29 Super Tucano in February next year. According to local news, the Air Force (PAF) is set to acquire more air assets and equipment in the coming months. On Tuesday, Philippine Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez spoke on this matter during the PAF’s 72nd founding anniversary. The commander said, the Super Tucanos “will be a game-changing platform, which will perform surface strike support to ground troops“. They are expected to support the remaining North American Rockwell OV-10 „Bronco“ attack aircraft being used by the PAF in strike missions. The A-29 is an Embraer light attack aircraft, which carries a wide variety of weapons, including precision-guided munitions. It was designed to be a low-cost system operated in low-threat environments.
Lara Seligman from Foreign Policy Magazine reported that Taiwan’s request to buy F-16V jets was expected to move forward this month, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said that the request is still only being reviewed by the US. According to the article, although the deal for 66 F-16 Block 70 jets has been stalled, it is expected to move forward before the US Congress begins its traditional recess next month. The negotiations over price and configuration of the aircraft had led to the deal taking longer than expected, Seligman wrote. However, Taiwan’s request must still be converted into a formal proposal by the US Department of Defense and Department of State, and then Congress officially notified, after which lawmakers would have 30 days to block the sale if they want.
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