Americas
Systems Planning and Analysis won a $13 million modification to provide support services for the Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Strategic Weapons System. Tasks to be performed include technical services, program support services, assessments, special studies, and systems engineering services. Work is expected to be completed September 30, 2025. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.
The US Air Force’s B-21 Raider program is gaining momentum, with significant progress reported during the Air and Space Force Association’s recent conference. Air Force leaders and industry partners provided key updates on the development of this advanced stealth bomber. Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems President Thomas Jones reported a marked increase in flight test frequency. “We’re really starting to strike up quite a cadence [and] generate two flight test flights in a given week,” Jones stated. This acceleration aligns with the program’s goal of creating a “daily flyer,” demonstrating the B-21’s development progress and the team’s commitment to rigorous testing.
Middle East & Africa
At least 20 people were killed and over 300 wounded Wednesday when walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon, the government said, a day after pagers used by Hezbollah blew up, killing 12 and wounding up to 2,800. The Iran-backed group blamed Israel for the first wave of blasts on Tuesday, vowing revenge and stoking fears of all-out war in the region. “The new wave of walkie-talkie explosions… killed nine people and wounded more than 300,” the health ministry said in a statement.
Europe
Rheinmetall unveiled the UK’s new Challenger 3 main battle tank to the public at a British Army event this week, with upgraded armor and a 120mm smoothbore cannon for what the company calls the most advanced tank in NATO. The UK is getting its improved tank as allies including France and Germany are still considering whether and how to adapt their heavy armor to evolving battlefield threats including drones, which have been ubiquitous tank killers in the war in Ukraine. The Challenger 3 with the Ajax fighting vehicles and Boxer infantry vehicles is set to form the backbone of the Army’s Future Soldier concept, which seeks to modernize the British forces for beyond 2030.
Asia-Pacific
Armenia has reportedly been in talks with India to procure missiles and upgrade its Su-30 combat aircraft fleet. The country’s air force department head Col. Hovhannes Vardanyan discussed possible areas of cooperation with Indian Armed Forces Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan at the International Defence Aviation Exposition 2024 in Jodhpur in early September. “We are looking at modernising our Su-30s with the help of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as it has a lot of expertise in the field,” Vardanyan told Hindustan Times.
