Americas
* The USMC has issued a $60 million contract to Raytheon for TOW missiles. Delivery of the missiles is expected to be completed by December 28, 2018. The weapons are designed to help ground forces engage armored targets like tanks and can also be mounted to land platforms such as the Styker and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
* Further orders for Oshkosh’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) have been made by the US Army. 409 of the vehicles will be produced in a $179 million contract, with work expected to be completed by this December. Initial low-rate production of the JLTV began last year, as the US Army and USMC look to replace their Humvees.
Middle East & North Africa
* Turkey’s Aselsan and Saudi Arabia’s Taqnia have formed a joint venture focusing on military electronics. Known as SADEC, the venture will include the building of a factory in Saudi Arabia on the idea of “creating the most advanced available technology.” Radars, electronic warfare suites and electro-optical technology will be developed and manufactured with a view to selling them to the Saudi and Gulf markets.
* Qatar is looking at the Turkish armor industry for the provision of 1,000 armored vehicles, as Turkish industry aggressively pursues markets in various parts of Asia. A joint venture including Turkish manufacturer BMC, Germany’s Rheinmetall and Malaysia’s Etika Strategi are involved in the negotiations for various armor platform configurations, although specifics on models sought by the Gulf kingdom remain undisclosed.
Europe
* The Russian Navy has stated that the Ka-52K is slated to replace all current fleets of Ka-29 assault transport helicopters as well as inducting ship-based UAVs as part of long-term naval plans. Russian naval aviation chief, Maj. Gen. Igor Kozhin, made the announcement on Monday, adding that “carrier-based fighter aviation units will get MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fighter jets in 2017-2020.” The 4++ generation fighters can destroy targets at sea and ground with high-precision guided weapons day and night, in any weather conditions.
Asia Pacific
* Japan is looking to sell Kawasaki P-1 and C-2 maritime patrol aircraft to New Zealand in what could be Tokyo’s first major arms sale. Classified data on both platforms was provided in September, as Wellington gathers information on other potential acquisitions from US and European competitors. Any deal will involve maintenance of the aircraft and New Zealand might get a chance to produce certain components for the planes under a technology transfer.
* During his New Year’s speech, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un announced that his country will test an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads this year. Reuters reported a senior US military official as saying that although Pyongyang appears able to put a miniaturized nuclear warhead on a missile, the missile re-entry technology necessary for longer range strikes is still a serious obstacle to their weapons development. Needless to say, the international community has condemned it.
* Korea Aircraft Industries (KAI) has secured a $523 million contract to provide KUH-1 Surion transport helicopters to South Korea’s marines. The deal covers the production and delivery of 30 helicopters, expected between 2017-2023. Modifications found on the marine variant include foldable blades, emergency floats that can deploy with the press of a button, optional long-range fuel tanks, as well as the ability to carrying nine fully equipped marines in addition to four crew members.
Today’s Video
2016 naval aviation year-in-review: