US Asked Israel To Transfer Its HAWK Missiles To Ukraine | Fincantieri Launched Qatari LPD | Spain Ready To Send Leopards To Ukraine

Americas

According to news reports in Israel, the United States had approached Israel to release its stockpile of MIM-23 HAWK air defense missiles and transfer them to Ukraine. But the head of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s political-Military Bureau, Dror Shalom, reportedly told the Pentagon that Israel has not changed its policy of not sending weapons to Ukraine and that the missile interceptors are obsolete anyway.

Textron won a $113 million deal to provide for the production and delivery of 10 Multi-Engine Training System aircraft, initial spares, peculiar support equipment, instructor pilot training, and maintenance personnel training to provide intermediate and advanced training for accession into P-8, EP-3, KC-130, E-6, E-2, CMV-22 and MV-22 aircraft in support of the mission of Chief Naval Air Training for the Navy. Work will be performed in Wichita, Kansas (99%); and Corpus Christi, Texas (1%), and is expected to be completed in June 2024.

Middle East & Africa

Sallyport Global Holdings won a $235.6 million deal for base operations support, base life support and security services in support of the Iraq F-16 program. The contract modification is for an additional 12 months of service being provided under the basic contract. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract $360,780,574. Work will be performed at Martyr BG Ali Flaih Air Base, Iraq, and is expected to be completed by January 30, 2024.

Italian shipbuilding firm Fincantieri has launched the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces’ 143-meter (469-feet) landing platform dock (LPD). Named “Al Fulk,” the amphibious vessel is one of the seven ships that Fincantieri is building for Doha as part of a 4-billion-euro $4.3-billion contract signed in 2016. It will be tasked to ensure “extremely efficient” land-air-marine connections to support a wide range of military missions.

Europe

Spain said Wednesday it was ready to send some of its German-made Leopard tanks to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia after Berlin granted approval for their European transfers. “Spain is ready… to deal with our allies in any way necessary, whether that means sending Leopards, training in the use of Leopards or help in their maintenance and upkeep,” Defense Minister Margarita Robles said. Her remarks came shortly after Berlins confirmed it would sent 14 Leopard tanks to Kyiv and cleared other European nations to send their own stocks to Ukraine. The US ist to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine.

Asia-Pacific

Australia will soon buy sea mines to help deter potential Chinese aggression. The country’s defense department is accelerating the purchase worth up to $712 million, The Sydney Morning Herald revealed, citing sources. The department has confirmed the upcoming purchase, the outlet wrote, adding that the mines will be procured from a European supplier.

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