The Pentagon’s blue-sky research agency recently announced that it selected 10 organizations to develop enhanced, less bulky night vision goggles to keep the crimp out of servicemembers’ necks. And so they can see better at night. The program, dubbed Enhanced Night Vision in Eyeglass Form (ENVision), will be divided to solve those problems in two separate technical areas. The five organizations selected in the first technical area will try to reduce the size and volume of night vision goggles.
The Netherlands will base its soon-to-be received MQ-9A Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles in the Caribbean region. The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is due to receive four MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from US manufacturer General Atomics next month.
Middle East & AfricaThe United Arab Emirates inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea for the purchase of M-SAM advanced air defense systems for $3.5 billion. The MoU for the surface-to-air missiles was signed on Sunday after the meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Emirati Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai.
Reportedly three people were killed when drones attacked the Adnoc storage tanks in Abu Dhabi on January 17. A separate attack in the new construction area of Abu Dhabi International Airport caused a minor fire. Houthis rebels from Yemen have claimed responsibility for the attack. Adnoc says the attack took place at approximately 10.00 a.m. local time and six others were wounded when the three transport tankers caught fire.
EuropeDassault Aviation delivered 55 airplanes in 2021, up from 47 the year before, the French aerospace manufacturer announced. Dassault provided 25 Rafale multirole fighters to export customers in 2021, which met expectations and was up from 13 the previous year. The company also delivered 30 Falcon business jets, up five from an earlier forecast but down four from the previous year.
Asia-PacificMD Helicopters (MDHI) has shipped six MD 530G Light Scout Attack helicopters for the Malaysia Ministry of Defense (MoD) via their agent Halaman Optima/ Destini Prima. The 530G for Malaysia is integrated with the Wescam L3 MX10D sensor and the Pathfinder Ares Weapons Management System from Tek Fusion which are used to support the Dillion M134 Mini Gun, FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun and Rocket Machine Gun pods, and 2.75-inch Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (guided and unguided).
Today’s VideoWatch: MD 530G Helicopter Power
General Electric won a $12 million deal for maintenance and overhaul of the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The UH-60 Blackhawk is a multi-mission medium lift helicopter. The primary mission of the Blackhawk helicopter is as a troop carrier and logistical support aircraft. The helicopter can also be configured to carry out medical evacuation, command-and-control, search-and-rescue, armed escort, electronic warfare and executive transport missions. Estimated completion date is January 14, 2027.
The Air Force awarded L-3 Communications Integrated Systems a $24 million deal for C-130H program depot maintenance. The deal provides for the services required to complete C-130H PDM actions, perform required aircraft modifications and all transactional sustainment actions associated for the C-130 Foreign Military Sales Directorate. Work will take place in Waco, Texas. Expected completion date is January 31, 2027.
Middle East & AfricaTurkey’s first intelligence ship, TCG Ufuk, was put into service in Istanbul on Friday as part of the country’s efforts to increase its naval power with a warship program. The ship was produced with national resources. Speaking at the delivery ceremony in Istanbul Shipyard, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the ship was built with national engineering capabilities, putting Turkey among the 10 countries in the world that can domestically design, construct and maintain a warship.
EuropeHENSOLDT has won approximately $57 million to equip the German-Norwegian submarine project U212 CD with a fully digital sensor suite. The optronics division of HENSOLDT has now received a corresponding order worth over €50 million from kta naval systems, a consortium of Kongsberg, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systeme (TKMS) and Atlas Elektronik. TKMS was awarded €5.5 billion in July 2021 to build two 212CD submarines for Germany and another four for Norway.
Leonardo has signed over $297 million worth contracts with HENSOLDT to help in the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon Jet’s ECRS Mk1 (European Common Radar System Mk1) E-scan radar, ordered by Germany and Spain. According to a press release, Leonardo will conduct development work on new wideband capabilities and provide core parts of the new radar’s antenna, APSC (Antenna Power Supply & Control) and its processor.
Asia-PacificThe Philippine government will acquire another 32 S-70i helicopters. A Notice of Award (NOA) has been issued to PZL Mielec of Poland on December 28. The amount of the purchase is valued at $623 million and it comes with training and logistical support. The first five helicopters are to be delivered from 2023. The last aircraft is supposed to be handed over in 2026.
Today’s VideoWatch: ‘Turkey’s eyes, ears at sea’: 1st intelligence ship joins naval fleet