Americas
* The US has changed its relationship status with India to “major defense partners,” following a new series of agreements on climate change, nuclear power, and national security. The announcement comes after a meeting between between President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Under India’s “Make In India” initiative and the expansion of the co-production and co-development of technologies under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), the two nations are starting DTTI working groups to include agreed items covering naval, air, and other weapons systems.
* Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, visited the Pentagon on Wednesday for a private meeting with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. The topic of the meeting was “innovation,” according to a White House statement by press secretary Peter Cook. He went on to state that Carter has been continuously seeking out ideas and feedback from those in the technology community and to see what developments can help keep the US and DoD on the cutting edge.
Middle East North Africa
* Boeing has been awarded a $667 million US Army contract to supply 24 AH-64E Apache helicopters to Qatar. Included in the deal are 1 Longbow crew trainer, ground support equipment, and Thales radios. The deal comes ahead of a planned five-year multi-year contract, which Boeing is hoping to sign in fiscal year 2017. The manufacturer is working with the US Army to accelerate the agreement of such a deal, which would cover the production of 275 aircraft – plus options to ramp up to 450 to support potential export deals – between then and FY2022.
* Italy has shipped its SAMP/T air defense system to Turkey as the German NATO Patriot battery’s three year mandate is drawing to a close. It is believed that NATO will also provide Turkey with a much sought after Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) by July. NATO’s package of assistance measures are set to be fully applied ahead of the much anticipated July 8-9 Warsaw Summit.
* AMTEC Corp. has been awarded an $84.5 million foreign military sales contract to provide 40mm grenade systems to Iraq. Completion of the contract is expected for September 30, 2018. AMTEC Corporation is the only company in the world manufacturing the M550 Fuze and corresponding M433 Cartridge to the current US Military Specifications, and thus is the current sole prime contractor to the US DoD for the 40mm Family of Grenade Ammunition.
Europe
* Manufacturer Irkut has revealed that the Russian Ministry of Defense has ordered 150 Yak-152 basic trainers. The announcement was made by plant director Sergey Yamani as the company unveiled the three aircraft under various stages of assembly at their plant in Irkutsk. Operated by a single pilot, the cockpit can accommodate two crew members in tandem configuration. The aircraft is intended to provide primary pilot training, professional selection, and occupational guidance for future pilots of military fighter aircraft.
* Denmark has received the first three of an eventual nine Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters to be operated by the Royal Danish Air Force. Completion of the order is expected by mid-2018. The MH-60R acquisition will see the RDAF replace their aging Westland Lynx 90 fleet and aims to extend Copenhagen’s reach and capabilities.
Asia Pacific
* Safran Helicopter Engines has been selected to provide the engines for South Korea’s planned Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) and Light Armed Helicopter (LAH). Both helicopters will be based on the Airbus Helicopters H155 but developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Under a contract signed between Airbus and KAI, the former will transfer the H155 assembly line to South Korea, where KAI will assume production of the type. The Safran engine award follows shortly after General Electric’s F414 engine was chosen to power the F-X experimental fighter.
Today’s Video
* Flying demo of the new An-178 at the Berlin Air Show: