Americas
The US Navy has selected L3Harris Technologies to develop an F/A-18 next-generation electronic warfare (EW) system. L3Harris is one of two companies selected for the $80 million prototype development contract, with follow-on development and production contracts expected in 2026.
The US Space Force has announced 21 new launch missions through 2024 under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. The missions were awarded to two companies, with United Launch Alliance (ULA) winning 11 assignments and SpaceX receiving 10. A second Silentbarker satellite launch will be included, being lifted to geosynchronous orbit to meet the Department of Defense and intelligence community’s space protection requirements.
Middle East and Africa
The US State Department has given the green light to a foreign military sale, strengthening the strategic partnership. Bell Helicopter has been given the go ahead to sell contracted logistics support (CLS) and related equipment to the Government of Iraq for an estimated cost of US$300 million. The Government of Iraq requested the purchase of additional services, including combined CLS and field service representative (FSR) maintenance support for Bell aircraft comprising three 407 variants, 206B3, OH-58A/C Kiowa, Huey II and 505.
The US Navy has dispatched a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East. The US Central Command shared a picture that seemed to show the submarine in Egypt’s Suez Canal. CENTCOM posted an announcement on X on Sunday noting that an Ohio-class nuclear submarine “arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility,” without offering further details regarding the specific location or the name of the vessel in question. Newsweek has contacted CENTCOM by email to request further information.
Europe
Kyiv said on Monday that Russia’s armed forces had mounted several “unsuccessful” attacks across the frontlines in the south and east of Ukraine over the last week. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has made any significant territorial gains for almost a year, and Kyiv’s top army commander said last week the war had ground to a stalemate.
Asia-Pacific
The US Navy is beginning to integrate its industrial base with those of Australia and the United Kingdom, despite Congress not yet passing several measures to enable the trilateral submarine-building arrangement AUKUS. AUKUS will bring about the sale of American submarines to Australia and the development of a new AUKUS-class design, but US Navy Under Secretary Erik Raven recently told lawmakers the agreement goes beyond acquisition programs.
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WATCH: The Ohio Class Submarines: A Symbol of US Nuclear Supremacy
