Defense Industry Daily

Americas Saab has won a $494-million contract to supply the US Army with XM919 Individual Assault Munitions (IAM). According to the US Department of Defense, the Swedish company’s proposal bested two others, but it did not reveal the names of the losing firms. Several reports indicate that General Dynamics and Norwegian-Finnish defense conglomerate Nammo also submitted bids. Lockheed Martin won a $3 billion deal, which procures training system and simulation design, development, integration, test, production, deployment, modifications/upgrades, and sustainment in support of the F-35 Lightening II aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-US Department of Defense Participants, and Foreign Military Sales countries. Work is expected to be completed by September 2028. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The Iraqi military said it downed a Turkish drone over the northern city of Kirkuk on Thursday as Ankara kept up its operations against Kurdish militants inside Iraq. Falling debris damaged a house in the city center, police and army officials told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. There were no reports of […]

Americas The Mayor of Iwakuni, Yoshihiko Fukuda, has agreed to the US Navy’s deployment of CMV-22 Osprey aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, marking the first stationing of this tilt-rotor variant in his city. The decision aligns with a broader realignment of U.S. military assets in the region, which includes the rotation of aircraft carriers and the introduction of F-35C stealth fighter jets. This deployment will add to the existing Osprey presence in Japan, complementing the Marine Corps’ MV-22s at Futenma air base in Okinawa and the Air Force’s CV-22s operating from Yokota base near Tokyo. Mayor Fukuda’s acceptance comes amid lingering safety concerns surrounding the Osprey platform, which has been involved in several incidents both in Japan and abroad. The mayor cited assurances from Japanese and U.S. officials regarding the aircraft’s safety as a key factor in his decision. He also noted that the overall number of aircraft at the base is expected to decrease by approximately 10 following the deployment, potentially mitigating environmental impacts such as noise levels. The US Army has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems another low-rate initial production contract for the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle. The $322.7-million contract modifies an identical contract awarded in June, […]

Americas Technology company Shield AI has conducted a “groundbreaking” demonstration of coordinated autonomous flight on two Kratos MQM-178 Firejets. The planes were flown by the company’s Hivemind artificial intelligence pilots, collaborating to execute coordinated maneuvers under realistic combat scenarios.  All computing was executed on board, and communication “seamlessly integrated” on board the aircraft, the San Diego-based firm said. The US Army has awarded Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) a $93.5-million contract to lead systems integration for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. The deal supports the service’s efforts to employ a next-generation intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (IRS) aircraft with improved geographical coverage and faster global deployment capabilities. SNC will take on the role for 12 years, with the agreement amounting to $991.3 million if all options are exercised. Middle East & Africa South Africa’s government has halted the supply of artillery shells from Rheinmetall’s plant to Poland. According to Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, South Africa’s National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) indefinitely suspended the approval of an export permit to Poland, leading to the cancellation of Poland’s order for 155 mm artillery ammunition from Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM). Europe Denmark has finalized the procurement of over 100 CV9035 MKIIIC infantry fighting […]

Asia-Pacific L3 Technologies won a $587.4 million contract for the design, production and delivery of electronic warfare test articles and fleet prototypes to include 11 pod simulators, eight operational prototype pods, four jettison mass model pods, two captive mass models, two mission system prototypes, and two technique development systems as well as engineering support, integration, test and maintenance resulting in a low-band capability in support of engineering and manufacturing development of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band program for the Navy EA-18G Growler and Royal Australian Air Force. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. A Cessna 208B utility aircraft flew more than 3,900 miles without a pilot during a recent US Air Force demonstration. Part of the Agile Flag military exercise, the demo allowed the plane to showcase Joby Aviation’s autonomy system in conducting a remote cargo transport operation. According to the company, the aircraft traversed various military bases and public airports across California and Nevada while being monitored by a “safety pilot.” It also completed an autonomous taxi, take-off, and landing at nine different locations, including those it had not visited before. Middle East & Africa The White House said Monday that Gaza truce talks […]

Americas Thomas Instrument won a $9 million firm-fixed-price requirements contract for the remanufacture of the B-1B lower rudder and master pitch/roll servo-cylinder. Work will be performed in Brookshire, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 22, 2029. This contract was a competitive acquisition, and one offer was received. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. Technology company Shield AI has conducted a “groundbreaking” demonstration of coordinated autonomous flight on two Kratos MQM-178 Firejets. The planes were flown by the company’s Hivemind artificial intelligence pilots, collaborating to execute coordinated maneuvers under realistic combat scenarios.  All computing was executed on board, and communication “seamlessly integrated” on board the aircraft, the San Diego-based firm said. Middle East & Africa Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel early on Sunday, as Israel’s military said it struck Lebanon with around 100 jets to thwart a larger attack, in one of the biggest clashes in more than 10 months of border warfare. Missiles were visible curling up through the dawn sky, dark vapour trails behind them, as an air raid siren sounded in Israel and a distant blast lit the horizon, while smoke rose over houses in […]

Americas Sikorsky won a $97.3 million deal for various H-60 Black Hawk configurations. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of August 21, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Oshkosh Defense has received a $1.5 billion follow-on contract to supply Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) for the US Army. The project will continue providing the service with new and recapitalized heavy tactical platforms as well as their corresponding trailers until 2031. FHTV configurations ordered include the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT A4), Palletized Load System, and Heavy Equipment Transporter. Middle East & Africa A Greek-flagged oil tanker traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated attack Wednesday, leaving the vessel “not under command” and drifting ablaze after an assault suspected to have been carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the British military said. The attack, the most serious in the Red Sea in weeks, comes during a monthslong campaign by Houthis targeting ships over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that has disrupted a trade route through which $1 trillion in cargo typically passes each year. Europe The US […]

Americas X-Bow Systems announced that it has completed the preliminary design review of its solid fuel hypersonic booster rocket engine. The New Mexico-based defense tech company reported that completion of this phase marks the second major technical review for the program, demonstrating design maturity and reduced risk for critical technologies. X-Bow is on track for the next major review of its hypersonic rocket motor, the critical design review, which typically indicates the end of architecture and system design. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has successfully deployed a new training capability known as ‘Simulators at Sea’ aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). This innovative system allows aviators across the carrier’s air wing to train together in advanced simulators, even while deployed. Previously, joint mission training on this scale was significantly limited due to the risks involved in practicing wartime scenarios, the high cost of flight operations, and the potential for exposing tactics to adversaries. Simulators at Sea offers a safer and more efficient alternative, enabling aviators to rehearse naval missions, including complex wartime scenarios, without leaving the ship. Middle East & Africa The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Tunisia of […]

CH-47Fs take off (click to view full) DII FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record; this FOCUS Article covers the CH-47F/MH-47G Chinook helicopter programs, in the USA and abroad. These helicopters’ distinctive “flying banana” twin-rotor design stems from the brilliant work of aviation pioneer Frank Piasecki. It gives Chinooks the ability to adjust their positioning very precisely, while carrying a large airframe whose load capacity has made it the world’s most popular heavy-lift helicopter. The USA expects to be operating Chinooks in their heavy-lift role past 2030. The CH-47F looks similar to earlier models, but offers a wide range of improvements in almost every aspect of design and performance. While the related HH-47’s $10-15 billion CSAR-X program win was terminated, delivery orders continue for CH-47Fs and for MH-47G Special Forces configuration helicopters. International orders or formal requests have also come in from Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the UAE, with India and other countries expected to follow. The New Chinooks: CH-47F, MH-47G, HH-47 CH-47F Family: Initial Improvements CH-47D Chinooks (click to view full) These new aircraft are part of the U.S. Army Cargo Helicopter Modernization Program, but they are based on a […]

Americas Boeing won a $27.6 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee-order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement. This modification exercises an option to procure three retrofit A-Kits for Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A aircraft with Increment Three Engineering Change Proposal Six Capabilities. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida (79.6%); San Antonio, Texas (10.9%); and Mesa, Arizona (9.5%), and is expected to be completed October 2026. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $130-million contract modification to ramp up the production of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM). Tooling and test equipment will be procured for the US Air Force contract, required for production increase. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by December 15, 2027. Middle East & Africa Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group said it launched several rocket salvos at Israeli army positions in the annexed Golan Heights on Tuesday “in response” to Israeli strikes on eastern Lebanon the previous day. Hezbollah fighters launched “intense rocket barrages” at two Israeli army positions in the occupied Golan Heights “in response to the Israeli enemy’s attack on the Bekaa” Valley — […]

P-8A Poseidon (click to view full) Maritime surveillance and patrol is becoming more and more important, but the USA’s P-3 Orion turboprop fleet is falling apart. The P-7 Long Range Air ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Capable Aircraft program to create an improved P-3 began in 1988, but cost overruns, slow progress, and interest in opening the competition to commercial designs led to the P-7’s cancellation for default in 1990. The successor MMA program was begun in March 2000, and Boeing beat Lockheed’s “Orion 21” with a P-8 design based on their ubiquitous 737 passenger jet. US Navy squadrons finally began taking P-8A Poseidon deliveries in 2012, but the long delays haven’t done their existing P-3 fleet any favors. Filling the P-3 Orion’s shoes is no easy task. What missions will the new P-8A Poseidon face? What do we know about the platform, the project team, and ongoing developments? Will the P-3’s wide global adoption give its successor a comparable level of export opportunities? Australia and India have already signed on, but has the larger market shifted in the interim? Program Summary [youtube:v=EcgIjsRo3uM] A P-8 primer The Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft program to replace the P-3 fleet began in earnest in 2000, and […]

Americas Tony Landis of the US Air Force Materiel Command History Office recently detailed the remarkable history of aircraft 62-12200, the McDonnell YF-4E Phantom II. Now housed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF), this aircraft, though often overlooked, played a pivotal role in advancing fly-by-wire (FBW) technology, setting the stage for the development of modern fighter aircraft. Originally developed as a Navy F4H-1, the aircraft was adapted for the US Air Force under the designation F-110A Spectre, later reclassified as the F-4C. Serial number 62-12200, initially a YRF-4C reconnaissance aircraft, underwent extensive modifications throughout its service life. Notably, it transitioned from its original role to become the aerodynamic prototype for the F-4E program, receiving the YF-4E designation in 1967. The US State Department has cleared Canada’s plan to purchase hundreds of AIM-9X Sidewinder tactical missiles from RTX. With an estimated value of $265 million, the potential foreign military sale (FMS) includes 120 Sidewinders in the Block II configuration and 48 in the more advanced Block II+. Ottawa is also requesting 96 training missiles, 20 guidance kits, active optical target detectors, and engineering and logistical support. Middle East & Africa Hamas has claimed it was behind […]

Americas Armtec Countermeasures Co. won an $11.7 million deal for RR-196 countermeasure chaff for the F-22. This contract provides for the impulse cartridge program and is used by F-22 aircraft for combat and training purposes. Work will be performed in Lillington, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by September 30, 2027. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $500 million deal for program management support related to Medium Altitude Long Endurance Tactical MQ-9 and MQ-1C Special Operations Forces-peculiar modifications in support of US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). This deal will be funded with operations and maintenance; procurement; and/or research, development, and testing evaluation funds under the applicable fiscal year, and is not multiyear. The work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed by August 16, 2029. USSOCOM, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Iraq has ordered an unspecified number of H225M multi-role helicopters from Airbus to fill potential capability gaps caused by US troops’ pending withdrawal from the country. Joint Operations Command spokesperson Major General Tahseen Al-Khafaji revealed in a televised interview […]

Americas Standard Aero won a $44.8 million deal, which will provide depot repair of T56-A-427A engines, including the repair of the power section, torque meter, gearbox, and accessories for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas (92%); and Winnipeg, Canada (8%), and is expected to be completed by August 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Boeing won $248.1 million for a ceiling-priced delivery order for the repair of landing gear used on the F/A-18 E/F aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. Work is expected to be completed by May 2028. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Turkey and Spain are in advanced talks over a potential military aircraft exchange. The deal, valued at approximately $793 million, could see Turkey acquiring six Airbus A400M military transport jets from Spain in exchange for 24 Turkey’s domestically produced Hürjet training aircraft. This negotiation bears similarities to Spain’s previous attempts to offload its A400M aircraft. In […]

Americas The Canadian military will be confronted with significant challenges when it begins operating its upcoming MQ-9B Reaper drones in the Arctic. Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) documents seen by Ottawa Citizen suggest that the icy, -30 Celsius weather in the country’s far north will be a serious test for the Reaper’s ability to conduct its missions. The drones will also have to operate from remote runways in the region where satellite coverage is limited. Lockheed Martin won a $19 million cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract modification for SemaFor Prototype System. Work will be performed at Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by October 11, 2026. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $395,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The US State Department has approved more than $20 billion major arms sales to Israel, including new F-15 fighter jets and tens of thousands of tank and mortar shells. One deal, valued at an estimated $18.8 billion, includes up to 50 new F-15IA multi-role fighter aircraft and Mid-Life Update modification kits for Israel’s existing 25 F-15I jets. This approval […]

Americas Boeing won a $264 million deal, which provides inspections, modifications, and repairs to the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircrafts to include inner wing panel repairs in support of remanufacturing efforts to restore the inner wing panel service life projections to the new design specifications. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Canadian Department of Defense started construction of a Quick Reaction Alert facility at the Bagotville base in Quebec. The site will house Ottawa’s future F-35A combat aircraft fleet and support North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations in partnership with the US military. The 7,400-square-meter (24,278 square feet) center will incorporate hangar bays, administrative spaces, and staff quarters. Surrounding the hub is a 17,000-square-meter (55,774 square feet) protected field for additional capabilities. Middle East & Africa Two ships reported coming under attack in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on Tuesday, although neither reported damage, British maritime agencies said. One ship’s captain said his vessel was targeted by an uncrewed surface vessel (USV), which was successfully disabled about 63 nautical miles (116 km) southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said. Europe Finland […]

EA-18G at Pax The USA’s electronic attack fighters are a unique, overworked, and nearly obsolete capability. With the retirement of the US Air Force’s long-range EF-111 Raven “Spark ‘Vark,” the aging 4-seat EA-6B Prowlers became the USA’s only remaining fighter for radar jamming, communications jamming and information operations like signals interception [1]. Despite their age and performance limits, they’ve been predictably busy on the front lines, used for everything from escorting strike aircraft against heavily defended targets, to disrupting enemy IED land mine attacks by jamming all radio signals in an area. EA-6B Prowler (click to view full) All airframes have lifespan limits, however, and the EA-6B is no exception. The USA’s new electronic warfare aircraft will be based on Boeing’s 2-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighter, and has 90% commonality with its counterpart. That will give it decent self-defense capabilities, as well as electronic attack potential. At present, however, the EA-18G is slated to be the only dedicated electronic warfare aircraft in the USA’s future force. DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This article describes the EA-18G aircraft and its key systems, outlining the program, and keeping track of ongoing developments, contracts, […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $29.7 million modification, which adds scope to procure training systems and simulation design, development, integration, test, production, deployment, modifications, upgrades and sustainment services to improve and sustain F-35 training devices in support of distributed mission training for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp, and non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida; and Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in July 2026. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The US Air Force and Navy have tested a QUICKSINK live-fire anti-ship attack with a B-2 Spirit heavy strategic bomber aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico. The event saw techniques for neutralizing surface vessels using precision-guided bombs modified specifically to counter maritime systems at low cost. According to the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), QUICKSINK leverages a guidance kit equipped with a new Weapon Open Systems Architecture seeker solution. Middle East & Africa Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have added long-range missiles and drones to the force’s navy, official media said Friday, amid heightened regional tensions following Hamas leader’s killing in Tehran blamed on Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological arm of Iran’s military which […]

Americas Boeing won a $2 billion modification for E-7A Rapid Prototyping. The modification is for the definitization of the UCA. Work will be performed in Tukwila, Washington, and is expected to be completed by August 28, 2029. There are no funds being obligated at the time of award. Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity. The deal represents a significant milestone for both parties, who have been working to finalize terms since an initial agreement was signed in 2023. The path to contract finalization was fraught with challenges. The Air Force initially faced difficulties in aligning its requirements with those of the United Kingdom, which has also acquired E-7s. Moreover, Boeing was under pressure to avoid the financial pitfalls that have plagued its defense division. These factors, coupled with disagreements over pricing, led to protracted negotiations and a temporary halt to procurement funding for the program. The Canadian Department of Defense will open high-rise accommodation for warfighters at the Esquimalt base on Vancouver Island. The $120.1 million project covers 31,700 square meters (7.8 acres) of land and will consist of up to 480 single occupancy rooms, according to Ottawa’s press release. The center’s facilities will include administrative […]

Americas SOFIS-TRG LLC won a $83 million single award contract for MQ-9 Aircrew Training Support. This contract provides for all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and all other items and services required to perform and support MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft aircrew academic instruction; courseware development; and air and ground intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance test and training support. Work is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2029. Air Combat Command, Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Hampton, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Boeing won aa?$14.8 million bilateral modification for the?F-15 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System Low-Rate Initial Production. Work will be performed at ?Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. This contract was a sole source acquisition. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Fighter and Advanced Aircraft Directorate, F-15 Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Ten people including at least four fighters were killed Wednesday when a bomb-laden truck exploded at a checkpoint in Syria’s Turkish-controlled northern city of Azaz, a war monitor said. An AFP correspondent in the area said a booby-trapped truck had detonated at a checkpoint inside the city. “Ten people have been […]

Americas Lockheed Martin has selected Voyager Space to provide an advanced upper stage solid-propulsion subsystem for the US Missile Defense Agency’s Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) defense capability. Under the partnership, the Denver-based firm will lead the design and production of a “flight-qualified, production-ready subsystem” before the NGI’s expected delivery date. Callan Marine Limited, Galveston, Texas, was awarded a $105 million firm-fixed-price contract for Brazos Island Harbor channel deepening. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Brownsville, Texas, with an estimated completion date of August 28, 2026. Fiscal 2024 civil construction funds in the amount of $104,974,200 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The United States military has completed its withdrawal from air base 201 in Niger, officials said on Monday, after Niger’s ruling junta ordered nearly 1,000 U.S. military personnel to leave following a coup last year. Air base 201, a drone base near Agadez in central Niger that was built at a cost of $100 million, had provided crucial intelligence about Islamist militant groups before the coup. Europe The Latvian National Armed Forces finally received its first […]