Americas
Hamilton won a $23.6 million deal with a firm-fixed-price pricing arrangement for C-130 repair. The total estimated value of all options is $116,760,189. The maximum ceiling value of the contract is $140,383,922. This contract provides repair in support of the NP2000 eight blade propeller and electronic propeller control system of the C-130 for the Air Force. Work will be performed in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by March 29, 2028.
The US Air Force will retire the KC-10A Extender in September 2024, marking the end of 43 years of service for the aerial refueling tanker. The last KC-10 test bird recently flew its final flight, with the 70th Air Refueling Squadron flying the tanker to its final resting place at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Lt. Col. Judson Darrow, 349th Operations Group deputy commander at Travis AFB, commented on the overall experience of flying the retired aircraft. “The final flight of #79-1951 was very special to me. It was also my last mission with the 70th ARS and flying the KC-10 before I retire this year,” said Darrow. “I have flown the ‘10’ for 20 years and have been part of the squadron for 17 of those years. To fly the last mission of this amazing aircraft with a great crew from throughout the KC-10 community was a perfect ending to my Air Force career.”
Middle East & Africa
The Egyptian Navy is the first confirmed foreign customer of the French-made Akeron MP anti-tank guided missiles, according to a report by Janes. A photo on social media shows personnel from Cairo’s Special Forces Brigade showing their new weapons and equipment, including the Akeron missile system. It has a launcher and a missile tube in tan rather than the original green. The missile was displayed alongside the RPG-32 shoulder-launched unguided anti-tank rocket system. The Akeron weapon is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Egypt’s defense capabilities to address existing and future security threats.
Europe
BAE Systems and Swedish aircraft builder Heart Aerospace have partnered to develop a battery system for the future ES-30 regional electric aircraft. The team claims the solution will be the “first-of-its-kind” to power an electric conventional takeoff and landing asset, enabling an efficient flight with low noise and no carbon emissions. BAE Systems will leverage over two decades of experience in large, heavy-duty industrial vehicles for the program.
Asia-Pacific
A new report by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency has disclosed new acquisition numbers that the Japanese Ministry of Defense intends to procure over the decade. The number of Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft that it will acquire has reduced to 61 airframes, down from 70 it had planned earlier. The E-2D fleet will grow to 18 aircraft, inline with the recent approved by the U.S. government to purchase five more of these early warning platforms. This may signal Japan’s desire to replace the Boeing E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). With the U.S. Air Force’s decision to retire the E-3 AWACS with the E-7A, Japan will eventually run into issues with procuring spare parts for the E-767’s radar.
Two Japanese defense firms have unveiled prototypes of their high-energy laser weapons to shoot down sophisticated enemy drones. The prototypes were displayed during the recently concluded Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) expo in Tokyo. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) showcased its 10-kilowatt fiber laser that can reportedly hit unmanned platforms up to 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) away.
Today’s Video
WATCH: The ‘Akeron’ MP Anti-Tank Guided Missile Review | FRENCH TANK BUSTER
