Defense`s Feeds

Argon ST won a $21 million delivery order under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement for the procurement of nine amplifier chassis for the support of operations of the MQ-4C Triton with the first deployment of IFC 4-configured unmanned aircraft system. Work will take place in Virginia. Expected completion will be by March 2025.

Sikorsky won a $17.2 million order, which provides non-recurring engineering in support of incorporating a one-second or less Engine Fuel Firewall Shutoff Valve into the CH-53K aircraft. The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. The most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense, the CH-53K is a new-build helicopter that will expand the fleet’s ability to move more material, more rapidly throughout the area of responsibility using proven and mature technologies. Work will take place in Connecticut, England and Maryland. Expected completion will be in April 2027.

A US Air Force F-15 fighter shot down an Iranian Mojer-6 unmanned aircraft over Iraq on September 28. USCENTCOM said in a statement that the drone was heading towards American troops in Erbil.

The road runway in Jousta, Finland was reactivated for the first time in decades in order for the Finnish Air Force to practice landing and take-offs on the highway. The Nordic country, which is applying for NATO membership following neighbouring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has a dozen similar reserve runways designed for wartime use around the country.

Jane’s reports, that the NATO enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA) battlegroup in Slovakia was declared combat-ready following exercise ‘Strong Cohesion’ in Leš?, held from 20 to 22 September. A spokesperson said that the declaration was made after evaluation by an in-theatre readiness inspectionteam led by Czech Major General Petr Procházka, deputy commander of the Army of the Czech Republic’s operations command.

The vice commander of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Maj. Gen. Arthur Cordura told senators during a hearing that only five out of twelve FA-50PH fighters are operational. Cordura explained that two jets are undergoing routine maintenance while the rest are waiting for spare parts. Delivery of spares are delayed by the COVID pandemic. He added that 10 jets will be serviceable by the end of the year.

WATCH: Here Comes the CH-53K King Stallion

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics won an $115.4 million deal, which provides diminishing manufacturing sources parts for F-35 Lightning II program for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-US Department of Defense participants, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will take place in Texas. Expected completion will be in September 2023. Just recently, the US Navy, in collaboration with Raytheon, carried out two StormBreaker smart weapon-guided test vehicle releases from an F-35B Lightning II at .9 Mach, bringing the F-35 one step closer to receiving a major weapons upgrade.

Huntington-Ingalls Industries won a $23.6 million modification for the procurement of material and labor associated with contractor-furnished on board repair parts for the outfitting of CVN-79. Work will take place in Virginia. Expected completion will be by June 2024. John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is the second aircraft carrier in the Ford Class. It is also the second aircraft carrier built by Newport News Shipbuilding named for JFK.

Iraq will take delivery of two GM403 air defense radars from Thales this month, Iraqi Defense Minister Juma Inad Saadoun has disclosed. “The Ministry of Defense has received French-made GM403 radars, two out of four, while they will arrive successively in Iraq at the end of this month,” Saadoun was quoted as saying. The last radar will arrive in the first quarter of next year. Thales said in July that it will supply Iraq with four GM403 air defense radars under a contract that will include a command and operations center.

The Royal Navy’s Duke-class Type 23 frigate HMS Kent has completed weapon and naval combat tests after undergoing maintenance and upgrades. The assessment prepares the frigate to join future deployments and drills, such as the Joint Warrior military exercise in Scotland next month.

The Lithuanian government has delivered a total of 50 M113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas announced. In a September 26 press briefing, Anusauskas said Lithuania plans to continue providing military assistance to its war-stricken European neighbor, pending consultation with NATO allies. “Our armed forces are NATO’s armed forces and our capability is also important for our allies who are here,” the minister said. “This is why every time we consider a reduction of our capability … we have to discuss with our allies how we are going to compensate for this.”

Australia has started the construction of its fifth Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) intended to enhance the country’s maritime awareness. A keel laying ceremony was held at the Henderson Maritime Precinct in Western Australia, with representatives from shipbuilder Luerssen Australia in attendance. The event marked a “major milestone” in the design, development, and delivery of another OPV for the Royal Australian Navy, Deputy Secretary of National Naval Shipbuilding Tony Dalton said.

WATCH: Building The Unsinkable | USS John F. Kennedy CVN 79 | Aircraft Carrier – Mega Machines ?10

Boeing won a $191.8 million delivery order for the repair of multiple flight control surfaces used on the F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G aircrafts. The delivery order does not include an option period. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida; various other locations within the continental US that cannot be determined at this time and St. Louis, Missouri, and work is expected to be completed by July 2025.

Mood Inc. won a $8.6 million deal for the spare of the Planetary Blade Fol used on the V-22 aircraft. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopters. Boeing is responsible for the fuselage, landing gear, avionics, electrical and hydraulic systems, performance and flying qualities. All work will be performed in Torrance, California, and is expected to be completed by March 2026. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity

Boeing won a $16.4 million contract modification to Foreign Military Sales (Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom) for improved drive system-enhancement on the Apache attack helicopter, production line and for the Apache Longbow crew trainers. Work will take place in Arizona. Estimated completion date is August 30, 2024.

The Army is dispatching two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Latvia for the country’s national combat readiness exercises, according to a statement from US Army Europe and Africa. Approximately a dozen personnel will be deployed with the rocket systems to the exercise, called Namejs 2022. US soldiers are practicing rapidly deploying long-range “precision fires capabilities in coordination with our allies and partners,” the statement said.

British engineering firm Supacat says it has completed the integration of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) sensing technology into the country’s Fox armored vehicles. In a press release last week, the company revealed that the first batch of upgraded vehicles has already been delivered to the manufacturer, Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL).

The US government has agreed to let Taiwan buy the NASAMS air defense missile system, Up Media reports. The offer from the Americans were made during the annual Monterey Talks security meeting by both sides in Annapolis on June 20. According to the news report, the Taiwanese will be allowed to buy the latest variant of NASAMS which can fire the AIM-9X, AMRAAM, and AMRAAM-ER missiles.

WATCH: This is America’s M142 HIMARS

Rockwell Collins won a $15.6 million modification, which adds additional in-scope work to provide a virtual reality trade study, aircraft common equipment replacement/virtualization, aircraft flight management computer functional equivalent unit card development, and Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) chat software enhancements in support of the E-2D Hawkeye Integrated Training System devices, as well as provides associated technical data, computer software, and computer software documentation for BLOS chat software enhancement efforts. Additionally this modification exercises an option to procure coupled mode capability in support of E-2D Aircrew Procedures Trainer Device 2F211 S/N 4 and E-2D Distributed Readiness Trainer. Work will take place in Virginia and Florida. Estimated completion will be in February 2024.

The US Marine Corps has contracted Stratom to develop an uncrewed ground vehicle that integrates a range of capabilities in one platform. The Remote Expeditionary Autonomous Pioneer (REAPr) System is expected to possess “material handling, construction, path/trail clearance, explosive hazard defeat and refueling” capabilities, according to the Small Business Innovation Research solicitation.

Iran unveiled a new medium-range ballistic missile on Thursday during a military parade commemorating the Iran-Iraq war, state television said. “The liquid-fuelled Rezvan ballistic missile has an operational range of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles),” said the station, which aired images of the missile mounted on a military vehicle.

Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) has contracted Elbit Systems UK to provide 150 Elbit Laser Warning Systems (ELAWS) for the Challenger 3 (CR3) Program. The ELAWS provides 360-degree coverage with a precise and timely warning against laser-guided threats such as missiles.

Singapore plans to build a new building at Ebbing Air National Guard Base to house an F-35 simulator, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has disclosed. This confirms that the island intends to bring its F-35s to the Ebbing ANG base to join its F-16 fleet. The EIS also noted that F-35Bs would not operate in STOVL mode due to noise concerns. Singapore has bought four F-35Bs with options for eight.

According to Jane’s, the Indian Army has selected Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to co-develop the country’s first light tank project along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The army selected the Mumbai-headquartered multinational to develop a 25-ton tank for mountain warfare under project Zorawar, L&T’s senior executive vice-president for defense Jayant D Patil told the outlet.

WATCH: British Army’s Next Generation Challenger 3 Tank Is Now Under Construction

If, in the year 2042, different countries and criminal groups provoked an international crisis in an ally of the European Union, what capabilities would the EU need to contain it? If such a crisis escalated into a conflict involving multi-domain operations, cyber attacks, unmanned systems and chemical and biological weapons, what might be the EU’s best capabilities mix?

To help answer those questions, the European Defence Agency organised its second tabletop exercise on future threats in Brussels on 21-22 September, following on from a similar simulation in Helsinki in June.

The EDA brought together about 40 experts and military planners to assess the impact of future threats on military capabilities, supported by a fictional scenario outside the European continent in two decades from now, when digital technology, artificial intelligence and computer networks are likely to develop further and present challenges that the EU must be ready for.

Unlike the Helsinki simulation, which focused on an attack on an EU country, the Brussels tabletop exercise, known as TTX, looked beyond to a geopolitical flashpoint scenario in which the country in question is plunged into full-scale armed conflict and becomes a failed state.

The Helsinki and Brussels tabletop exercises are part of efforts to develop the longer-term aspects of the EU’s Capability Development Plan (CDP). The exercises, which are different from tactical wargames, relied on a simulation involving several states as well as criminal organisations.

With a mix of defence planners, technology and innovation experts, as well as foresight analysts, the Brussels and Helsinki exercises also sought to enhance the integrated approach needed to balance the so-called “capability pull” and the “technology push” aspects of military capability development. As in Helsinki, members of the NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) attended as observers.

By discussing the implications of possible future threats, the exercises encompassed land, sea, air, space and cyber, and considered, among other things, the impact of hybrid warfare, the dominance of artificial intelligence-supported systems, conflict in the grey zone between war and peace, and energy concerns affecting all military domains.

Over the course of the two-day simulation in Brussels, which involved adversaries with advanced cyber and space capabilities, the experts and planners sought to learn as much as possible from such a crisis that involved both kinetic and non-kinetic confrontation, preparing for the long-term to consider the full spectrum of military capabilities that might be needed.

The focus was on assessing the long-term capabilities trends and requirements to contribute to the detailed content of the CDP, which is structured by military tasks and time periods, known as the Generic Military Task List (GMTL) and organised in six main capabilities areas.

The look into warfare in 2040 and beyond is part of the CDP’s so-called Strand B. Other strands in the CDP include short- and mid-term analysis, involving lessons from operations, projects and programmes for cooperation, and assessing their impact on capability requirements.

For more information, please click here: 

• Tabletop Exercise to explore future military capabilities
• CDP Factsheet
• Recent launching of CDP revision by participating Member States

The US Navy awarded Raytheon a $160 million deal for Dual Band Radar (DBR) design agent and technical engineering efforts. Engineering efforts and supplies are required to support the DBR systems installed aboard CVN-78 and DDG-1000 class ships. Work will take place in Massachusetts, California, Rhode Island and Virginia. Estimated completion will be by September 2023.

The US Army’s Program Executive Office Missiles and Space has issued a Request For Information (RFI) for the Close Combat Missile System-Heavy (CCMS-H). The CCMS-H is to replace the existing BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile. The new missile must be able to destroy Tier 1 armored threats and field fortifications. It must have dual command guidance such as Fire and Forget, Command-Line of Sight, or Semi-Active Laser homing while incorporating reprogrammable target prioritization capability. The Army intends to store the CCMS-H for up to ten years and the missile must be ready to be fired at any time.

The Israeli Navy has successfully test-fired a Gabriel 5 anti-ship missile from INS Oz. The Israeli Defense Ministry says the test was carried out in August. Israel Aerospace Industries manufactures the Gabriel family of advanced sea-skimming missiles.

Raytheon won a $15.3 million order, which provides for depot-level repair capability for the government of Kuwait’s inventory of AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar weapon replaceable assemblies. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California and Forest, Mississippi and is expected to be completed in February 2023.

Defense News reports that the Italian Air Force and Navy have figured out how to manage their small fleets of F-35Bs, and it goes something like “Joint training and operations, but separate bases.” With both services due to receive just 15 F-35B’s each, the need for pooled management has been obvious to officials, despite  rivalries between the military branches.

Japan has officially acknowledged that three Eurofighters from the German Air Force will be arriving at Hyakuri Air Base on September 28. The Germans will participate in joint training with F-2 fighter pilots from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The ASDF says the goal is to promote mutual understanding, strengthen defense cooperation and improve the ASDF’s tactical skills.

WATCH: The World’s Most Powerful Ship – USS Zumwalt Documentary

The US Air Force announced that Northrop Grumman would roll out the B-21 bomber in the first week of December at its production facilities in Palmdale, California. “We last introduced a new bomber over 30 years ago. As we look to the threats posed by our pacing challenge; we must continue to rapidly modernize. The B-21 Raider will provide formidable combat capability across a range of operations in highly contested environments of the future,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr said.

Textron won a $7.7 million modification to remove work, incorporate additional work and exercise an option to a previously awarded contract FA8617-22-C-6238 for Building Partner Capacity T-6C Program – Tranche 1. This descope and add work contract modification provides for the configuration change of the T-6C aircraft being produced under the basic contract. This modification also provides for the exercise of an option for an additional quantity of six personal life support equipment being produced under the basic contract via option exercise. Work will be performed in Wichita, Kansas, and is expected to be complete by September 30, 2024.

Noble Supply and Logistics won a $500 million modification exercising the first one-year option period of a three-year base contract with two one-year option periods under solicitation SPE8E3-18-R-0010 for facilities maintenance, repair and operations support in the Central Command Area of Responsibility. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with an October 1, 2023, ordering period end date. Estimated completion date is October 1, 2023.

Sikorsky won a $32.8 million modification to exercise an option for two UH-60M aircraft for Foreign Military Sales. UH-60 Black Hawk is a multi-mission helicopter developed by Sikorsky that has been operational in the US Army since 1978. The export version of the UH-60 Black Hawk is designated as S-70A. Work will take place in Connecticut. Estimated completion date is June 30, 2027. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales (Jordan) funds in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award.

Defense News reports that the British government has ordered an update of its defense and security review published last year and hopes to complete a revised plan by the end of 2022, Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced. Touted as the biggest defense review since the Cold War when it was unveiled in March 2021, Britain’s update of strategic aims and capabilities has been overtaken by events following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft destined for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was unveiled on September 14 by Northrop Grumman at Palmdale California. The Triton’s will be particularly useful in protecting Australia’s northern maritime regions. Northrop Grumman began build in October 2020 with the fuselage and one-piece wing coupled together in December 2021.

WATCH: T-6 TEXAN II–An Up Close Look at the Air Force’s Primary Trainer

The Permanent Structured Cooperation, or PESCO, is among the most ambitious EU defence initiatives. Launched in December 2017, it aims to increase defence cooperation among the participating EU Member States to a new level. Twenty-five participating states signed up to 20 more binding commitments to jointly plan, develop and invest in shared capability projects. As PESCO approaches its fifth anniversary, the PESCO Secretariat – the European Defence Agency (EDA), the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) – have prepared an annual PESCO Projects Progress Report which highlights the underlying diversity of progress in ongoing projects.

Read the full article on the PESCO website

General Dynamics won a $414.8 million contract modification with one four-year option period for multiple items used in the Abrams Main Battle Tank, Stryker Family of Vehicles, Light Armored Vehicle Family of Vehicles, Cougar, Buffalo and RG-31. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/definite-quantity contract. Estimated completion date is September 28, 2029.

Boeing won a $51.7 million contract to procure the final 51 Advanced Capabilities Mission Computers retrofit kits (49 kits for EA-18G aircraft and two kits for software integration labs) in support of meeting the Navy’s mission requirements for the EA-18G aircraft. Work will take place in Minnesota, Missouri and Maryland. Estimated completion will be in September 2025.

The Israeli navy held Leonardo’s 76/62 Super Rapid Multi Feeding naval gun acceptance ceremony on board the Israeli Navy’s ship Oz/Magen Sa’ar 6 class, at the naval base of Haifa last week. The 76/62 SR MF will deploy the corvettes’ air, anti-surface and anti-missile defense capabilities. The Israeli Navy procured four new guns now installed on board of new Sa’ar 6 corvettes and it is expected that advanced ammunition and more new guns will be procured in the coming years.

Switzerland has inked a deal to procure three dozen F-35A fighter jets, dodging a proposed popular referendum in the hopes of receiving the new jets by the end of the decade. Bern’s armaments director Martin Sonderegger and F-35 program manager Darko Savic signed the procurement contract on Monday, per a government release. The contract, worth $6.25 billion includes 36 of the conventional takeoff-and-landing aircraft variant, due to replace the nation’s fleets of F/A-18 Hornets and F-5 Tigers between 2027 and 2030. The Swiss parliament voted last week to green-light the procurement, which paved the way for the contract signatures.

PKL Services won a $110.8 million deal for Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) flight operations and maintenance support training. This contract provides for F-15SG maintenance and operations training for the RSAF. Work will be performed at Mountain Home Air Force Base. Work will take place in Idaho. Expected completion date is September 30, 2027.

The US administration is quietly working on a trade of nearly 50 military aircraft with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in exchange for security assistance inside Afghanistan, Politico revealed. Afghan Air Force pilots flew the US-donated aircraft to the two neighboring Central Asian countries in August last year to avoid them being captured by the Taliban.

WATCH: The F-35A – The right fighter aircraft for Switzerland

Bell Textron won a $228.2 million deal by the US Navy, which provides the H-1 Light/Attack helicopter with new and modified capabilities through System Configuration Sets, which is a combination of software and/or hardware configuration item changes integrated into a previously deployed baseline configuration. These efforts include work on the airframe, aircraft wiring interface terminals, flight controls, and weapon systems interfaces, as well as research alternatives, investigation, and documentation of new capabilities and anomalies related to flight controls, wiring harnesses, and weapons, and developing, integrating, verifying, validating, and testing these systems. Additionally, this contract provides for identification of maintenance activities required to support the systems; research, development, and support of studies and analysis related to configuration items, new subsystems, weapons integration, engineering, and logistics; and all efforts required to accomplish analysis of alternatives, system design, integration, testing, rapid response activities, and system capability improvements for Foreign Military Sales customers and fleet support. Work will take place in Texas. Estimated completion will be in September 2027.

The US Air Force is testing out loading GBU-38 smart bombs with other types of munitions while being carried externally on the B-52 bomber. Tasked by the US Air Force SEEK EAGLE Office, engineers from Arnold Engineering Development Complex uses a 16-foot transonic wind tunnel at Arnold Air Force Base to gather separation data when the GBU-38 is carried with different types of weapons such as the GBU-31 and CBU-87 on neighboring stations.

Israel’s defense company Rafael is arriving at NATO Days as one of the Main Marketing Partners of the event and as the only Israeli company which has developed an air defense system that has been acquired by a NATO member. The Czech Ministry of Defense purchased the SPYDER air defense system last year. At NATO Days 2022, in Ostrava, Czech Republic, RAFAEL’s state-of-the-art SPYDER Family of air defense systems will be displayed with two configuration models of the SPYDER SR and SPYDER MR which operates with 6 different interceptors.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence announced a procurement process to buy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for its armed forces. The future order includes two UAV models, including 26 “mini” and nine “small” systems. According to market analysis, the variants should cost around $36 million. They will be utilized for target identification and tracking, field impact assessment, artillery fire monitoring, and system adjustments.

Damen Naval and Rolls-Royce Power Systems have inked a contract for the latter to deliver 16 mtu diesel generator sets (gensets) for the German Navy’s four new F126 frigates. Damen noted that this was the first time it had awarded a contract for mtu naval diesel gensets. The agreement also includes an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package. The onboard power of each F126 vessel will be provided by four mtu Series 4000 variable speed generator sets.

China announced sanctions on Friday against the chief executives of American defense contractors Raytheon and Boeing Defense over a major US arms sale to rival Taiwan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning did not specify what the sanctions would be against Gregory Hayes, chairman and CEO of Raytheon Technologies, and Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security.

WATCH: SPYDER Ground-Based Missile System with Web Look Protection | Philippine Air Force

Boeing won a $20.7 million deal, which provides for logistics management, product support analysis and integration, maintenance planning, technical data, support equipment maintenance, and engineering services in support of the P-8A aircraft for the Navy and the governments of Australia, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Work will take place in Florida, Washington, Maryland, Iceland and Japan. Estimated completion will be in September 2023.

Bell Boeing won a $13.4 million contract by the Navy. The deal provides engineering, management, technical, and acquisition support for the implementation and sustainment of V-22 capability defect packages for V-22 avionics and flight controls systems. Work will take place in Pennsylvania, Texas and Missouri. Estimated completion will be by September 2026.

The Israeli Navy has received the 76/62 Super Rapid Multi-Feeding naval gun for two Sa’ar 6-class corvettes at its Haifa Naval base. The 76/62 enables air, anti-surface, and anti-missile defense for INS Oz and INS Magen ships. The Israel Navy is one of the first international forces to procure the gunnery, according to Leonardo. Since 1973, the navy’s Sa’ar 4.5 fast attack craft have operated with six integrated 76/62 systems.

Poland’s Ministry of National Defence has signed two contracts to buy 48 FA-50 light attack aircraft from South Korea, with the first 12 jets to be delivered next year and a further 36 aircraft in the years 2025 to 2028. Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was present at the official signing ceremony on September 16, said “the implementation of the program to introduce the FA-50 aircraft to the Polish military will allow us to fully resign from using the [Soviet-designed] MiG-29 and Su-22 aircraft,” as quoted in a statement released by his office.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will decide whether to buy a total of seven MQ-4C unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from Northrop Grumman after a defense review is completed next year. Australia has placed a order for three MQ-4Cs to complement the Boeing P-8A maritime aircraft acquired under AIR 7000 Phase 2B as a family of systems to replace the P-3 Orion. “That defence review will take into consideration the decision not to proceed on SkyGuardian,” Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney was quoted as saying. Australia’s 2016 Defence White Paper had recommended the purchase of seven MQ-4Cs.

The Sri Lanka Air Force is set to receive aircraft loading and refueling equipment from the Department of Defense in 2023 under the Building Partner Capacity Program. To prepare the Sri Lanka Air Force on how to handle the equipment, a Mobile Training Team event was organized by the 36th Contingency Response Squadron at Montana Air National Guard Base last week. A 15-member team from the Sri Lanka Air Force spent four days learning to operate the gear from airmen assigned to 120th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 120th Maintenance Squadron. Procedures such as pallet buildup, refuel/defuel, and forklift operations were imparted to the Sri Lankans.

WATCH: MQ-9 Reapers land at Iowa Air Guard base for first time

General Dynamics won a $21.6 million modification for additional hours of Abrams system technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of September 22, 2023. M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems. The first M1 tank was produced in 1978, the M1A1 in 1985 and the M1A2 in 1986.

The Navy awarded Insitu a $191.8 million modification, which procures 13 RQ-21A Blackjack air vehicles, 25 ScanEagle air vehicles, 48 RQ-21A and ScanEagle payloads and turrets, support equipment, spares and sustainment spares and tools in support of RQ-21A Blackjack and ScanEagle unmanned aircraft platforms for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Foreign Military Sales customers. Work will take place in Washington. Estimated completion will be in June 2026.

Language Associates won a $10.6 million deal for English language training in support of the Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron. Work will be performed in the United Arab Emirates and is expected to be completed by September 20, 2025. This contract involves 100% Foreign Military Sales to the United Arab Emirates.

The French Navy is setting its sights on commercially developed drones and laser weapons to field new capabilities before the end of the 2020s, a senior service officer said on Monday. “We need to go faster to keep up with the threats and to keep up with our competitors. We cannot wait until 2030 for some capabilities,” said Rear Adm. Eric Malbruno, the deputy for planning and programs in the office of the Navy Chief of Staff.

Saab announced that it has received a contract for submarine life extension and upgrades from Sweden’s Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). The contract was valued at $43.8 million and comprises life extension and upgrade works on the submarine HSwMS SÖDERMANLAND, along with new batteries and battery development.

Yomiuri news from Japan says Tokyo intends to import loitering munitions for trials and the American Switchblade and Israeli Harop are being considered. If trials are successful, Japan will induct loitering munitions into service from 2025 and deploy them in large numbers.These munitions are expected to be deployed in the Ryukyu Islands, close to China and Taiwan.

WATCH: The Södermanland-class submarine – one of the submarines in operation by the Swedish Royal Navy

Elbit America won a $12.6 million delivery order under previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00383-20-G-WY01 for the procurement of large-area display in support of the F-18 aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. Work will take place in Israel. Expected completion day will be in September 2023.

Lockheed Martin won a $9.9 million modification for developmental activities regarding the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense. Work will take place in Texas. Estimated completion date is June 12, 2023.

Raytheon Lockheed Martin Javelin JV won a $311.2 million modification for full-rate production of Javelins. Work will take place in Arizona. Estimated completion date is November 30, 2026. Fiscal 2022 Foreign Military Sales (Jordan and Lithuania) funds and Army procurement appropriations funds in the amount of $311,171,700 were obligated at the time of the award.

Poland is expected to be the first nation to train their F-35 pilots at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, the Arkansas Business said. The pilots and their aircraft is scheduled to arrive in Fort Smith in 2024 and the US Air Force is expected to build a F-35 simulator center at the base.

Bloomberg says Germany has selected the Israeli Arrow 3 over THAAD for its ballistic missile defense program. Chancellor Olaf Scholz met Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Berlin on September 12 and both spoke positively on a potential deal in a press conference later that day.

The second India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting was held in Tokyo on September 8, 2022, and was attended by the Indian Minister of Defense, Shri Rajnath Singh, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Japanese Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, and the Japanese Minister of Defense, Mr. HAMADA Yasukazu.

WATCH: THAAD: America’s Super Shield against Ballistic Missiles

Champion Aerospace won a $9 million contract to procure 252 175 ampere (amp) Transformer Rectifier Unit (TRU) retrofit kits (240 for the F/A-18E/F fleet and EA-18G squadrons, and 12 for the EA-18G Growler capability modification operational test in support of upgrading the current 150 amp TRU to a 175 amp TRU). Work will be performed in Liberty, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed in December 2023.

General Electric Aviation said it and the US Air Force finished testing the firm’s second adaptive engine, which it hopes the military will adopt for the F-35 jet, and is ready to move into the engineering and manufacturing development phase.

Asio Technologies, an Israeli developer and manufacturer of geospatial position systems and tactical defense solutions, is launching the NavGuard NOCTA Mini, a mini-size jam-proof aerial optical positioning system for drones and UASs. NavGuard is a real-time optical navigation system that enables seamless and accurate autonomous GNSS-free navigation for tactical UAS platforms in areas where the GNSS signal is spoofed, jammed, or simply unavailable.

Polish company AMZ-Kutno unveiled the TUR 7 4×4 armored vehicle at the International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO 2022 held in Kielce from September 6th to 9th. The TUR 7 was shown in a light medical transporter configuration and joins the large TUR family of vehicles produced by AMZ-Kutno. The TUR is a family of 4×4 armored vehicles designed by the Polish manufacturer AMZ-Kutno in 2007. The vehicle was developed to offer a new generation of 4×4 armored personnel carrier vehicles. The TUR was based on the prototype chassis of a commercial IVECO off-road vehicle.

According to Jane’s Azerbaijan’s DefTech is developing a tiltrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and presented a 1:3 scale aircraft at ADEX 2022 in Baku. Jalal Rahimov, head of the company’s technical department, said that the intention is for the platform to fill a logistics role with a key differentiator being its ability to deliver its cargo at speed. Rahimov said that the company expects the final version of the UAV to be capable of 450 km/h and have an endurance of one hour.

L3 Technologies won a $32 million modification to exercise options for Cooperative Engagement Capability system spares and signal data processors. Work will take place in Pennsylvania, Utah and Florida. Estimated completion will be by April 2023. Foreign Military Sales (Japan) funds in the amount of $1,213,305 (4%); and fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $888,984 (3%) will be obligated at time of award, of which funds in the amount of $888,984 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

WATCH: SKY SHIELD – Airborne Electronic Warfare

General Atomics won a $35.9 million deal, which procures spares necessary for the successful operational capability of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned Aircraft System Expeditionary Medium Altitude Long Endurance MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper air vehicles, ground control stations and ancillary equipment for the Navy. Work will take place in California, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Florida, South Carolina and Canada. Estimated completion will be in December 2026.

New students who graduated to fly the B-52 bomber this fall will be operating the eight-engine aircraft with four crew members instead of the usual five. The bomber has two pilots, one navigator, a weapon systems officer operating the radar, and an electronic warfare officer. When downsized to four people, the navigator, weapon systems and electronic warfare seats can be filled by any of the two non-pilot air crew. The switch to a four-person crew now is necessary as the bomber will be structurally modified to fly with only four people in the future. These current batch of graduates will be ready to assume the role of instructors when the modifications are rolled out later this decade.

Egypt’s defense minister has expressed his wish for a closer military partnership with the US during a meeting with the commander of American forces in the Middle East. Mohamed Zaki met Gen. Michael Kurilla of US Central Command in Cairo to discuss cooperation, weeks after ships from both countries’ navies held training exercises in the Mediterranean.

The E1-79 Pegasus II has been flight tested. The unmanned air vehicle is produced by Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) and has been in service with the Hellenic Air Force since 2005. It took off from JKH/LGHI Chios island National Airport for a short low test flight over Chios Strait.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence has sent a letter of request to the United States government to buy 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the nation’s armed forces. Deputy Prime Minister and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz B?aszczak unveiled the planned purchase following a meeting with his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which took place on September 8 in Ramstein, Germany.

The Philippine Navy plans to acquire more modern warships in the next five years to be on par with neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. According to Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia, the country expects the arrival of seven additional Acero-class gunboats in the next few years. It will also procure new offshore patrol vessels, construction landing docks, and next-generation corvettes.

WATCH: Hellenic Air Force UAV Pegasus II short test flight from Chios island National Airport.

Raytheon won a $9 million contract for the procurement of nine active electronically scanned array radar system APG-79 weapon repairable assemblies in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, carrier-capable, multirole combat jet, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft. Work will take place in Mississippi. The deal contains no options and work is expected to begin October 2022 and be completed by January 2024.

Six F-16s from South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing are in Colombia for exercise Relampago VII. The purpose of this exercise is to provide the Colombian Air Force with requested realistic interoperability training as allied countries, under NATO standards.

The United States on Thursday placed sanctions on an Iranian company that helped to ship drones to Russia for use in Ukraine, and warned non-Iranian firms against becoming involved in the trade. The US Treasury said it had placed Tehran-based Safiran Airport Services on its sanctions blacklist, two months after the White House divulged intelligence that Russia was seeking Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for its war in Ukraine.

The first pair of upgraded F-16Vs from the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) will return home from the United States on September 12. They will land at the Hellenic Aerospace Industry facility in Tanagra. They were sent to Forth Worth, Texas for modifications by Lockheed Martin in February 2021. The HAF is expected to receive six more F-16Vs this year.

According Jane’s, Belarus’ Belspetsvneshtechnika has outlined improvements to the 61 mm-calibre Sapphire disposable rocket launcher. Detailing the new features at ADEX 2022 in Baku, a company representative highlighted a new tandem warhead configuration, enhanced lethality, and ongoing work on what was described as a “smart sighting system” that is intended to automate processes and assist the user through a fire control unit that presents an aiming point once a target is designated, among other features.

The Japanese government is set to acquire the site of an abandoned school and school dormitory on Mageshima island as part of the plan to turn the island into a field carrier landing practice (FCLP) site for the US Navy. The city council will vote on the proposal on Sept. 9 and the news reports say council members will likely approve the acquisition.

WATCH: F-18 Hornet Fighter Jet in Action

Boeing won an $8 million modification, which exercises an option to provide cyber security services to support the physical security of the P-8 aircrew trainers and facilities, including cyber scanning and remediation, cyber security updates, and scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for the Navy. Work will take place in Missouri and California. Estimated completion will be in September 2023.

Lockheed Martin is working with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to lift a delivery pause of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat aircraft following the recent discovery of material from China. The F-35 program office has assessed that the Chinese alloy does not present a safety or security risk that could expose the stealth jet to cyber attacks or other malfeasance, and an alternative source for the alloy has already been identified, F-35 JPO spokesman Russell Goemaere said in a statement. As a result, there are no plans to ground the F-35 fleet or return jets already accepted to Lockheed.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has received three domestically-manufactured vessels equipped with sophisticated air defense systems. The ships were handed over at a ceremony in the port city of Bandar Abbas off the southern coast of Iran. One of the newly-commissioned vessels is an advanced patrol ship with a vertical launch system for firing short and mid-range missiles.

The US unveiled nearly $3 billion in new aid for Ukraine and 18 of its neighbors on Thursday as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with allies in Germany and Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unscheduled visit to Kyiv. Alongside a $675 million package of heavy weaponry, ammunition and armored vehicles for Ukraine, the administration notified Congress of its intent to make $2.2 billion in new Foreign Military Financing available. The recipients include NATO members and Eastern European security partners the State Department called “most potentially at risk for future Russian aggression.”

The US and its allies sponsored the training of Ukrainian forces that sunk a Russian naval vessel in June with a Harpoon anti-ship missile, the US undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment Bill LaPlante revealed. Speaking at the Defense News Conference, LaPlante said the Boeing weapon was taken from an allied vessel and modified to fire from a flatbed truck.

The Japanese government is set to acquire the site of an abandoned school and school dormitory on Mageshima island as part of the plan to turn the island into a field carrier landing practice (FCLP) site for the US Navy. The city council will vote on the proposal on September 9 and the news reports say council members will likely approve the acquisition.

WATCH: What is a Boeing P-8 airplane used for?

Stellant Systems won a $36.9 million contract for the F-16 Traveling Wave Tube repair services. Work will be performed in Torrance, California, and is expected to be completed by January 30, 2029. The Air Sustainment Center Supply Chain Management Division, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity.

The US Army has nominated a new leader for Futures Command. Lt. Gen. James Rainey, nine months after its first commander Gen. Mike Murray retired, the service’s undersecretary said September 7 at the Defense News Conference. The Army command, which oversees the requirements process for modernization had been without a confirmed four-star leader for more than nine months after officials worried the front-runner for the job would not receive congressional approval because he allegedly had reservations about deploying the National Guard during the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol.

Iran’s naval forces have highlighted the vulnerability of the US 5th Fleet’s new fleet of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) by seizing at least three in less than a week, claiming they were a threat to navigation. Iranian television broadcasted footage on September 2 showing two Saildrone Explorer USVs on the flight deck of a frigate and then being pushed over the side by sailors.

UK-based engineering and services group Babcock has been awarded two new contracts intended to pave the way for in-country build of Poland’s Miecznik (Swordfish) frigates to start in 2023. Babcock – bidding a variant of its Arrowhead 140 design – was selected earlier in 2022 as the platform design provider and technology partner for the three-ship Miecznik programme. Arrowhead 140 forms the basis for the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) new Type 31 frigate.

The South Korean Marine Corps is shopping for an attack helicopter and Bell is proposing to license build its AH-1Z with Korean Air in order to secure the contract. The disclosure of Bell’s proposal to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was made by People Power Party lawmaker Han Ki-ho. Han said this was Bell’s third attempt to offer license production of the AH-1Z to South Korea. He said two e-mails sent by Bell in October and November last regarding the proposal were ignored by DAPA.

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of F-16 aircraft sustainment and related equipment to Pakistan in a deal valued at up to $450 million, the Pentagon said. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corp. The Government of Pakistan has requested to consolidate prior F-16 sustainment and support cases to support the Pakistan Air Force F-16 fleet by reducing duplicate case activities and adding additional continued support elements. I

WATCH: UK Type 31 Swordfish Frigate Is Being Constructed for Polish Navy, Worth Almost €2 Billion

According to Jane’s, the Pentagon’s intelligence directorate is investing heavily in systems and programmes specifically designed to knock down barriers to collaboration between US armed forces, allies, and partner countries across all strata of command. Increasing capabilities to foster increased collaboration between the Pentagon and its allies, from an information-sharing and technology perspective, has emerged as a priority for the department’s intelligence directorate.

The Brazilian Navy commissioned its first-of-class Riachuelo Class diesel-electric attack submarine, S Riachuelo (S-40), on September 1. The general director of the Directorate-General for Nuclear and Technological Development of the Navy (DGDNTM), Fleet Admiral Petrónio Augusto Siqueira de Aguiar, signed with Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN) and Naval Group the provisional receipt and acceptance confirmation for S Riachuelo on August 26.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been awarded a contract to supply DroneGuard ComJam systems for the long-range detection and disruption of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to an Asian country. The contract comprises several dozens of mobile systems. The use of UAS has increased dramatically, and they have become a potential threat to borders, sensitive facilities, maneuvering forces and major events. UAS may be used for hostile purposes such as gathering intelligence, smuggling or even carrying armaments.

According to the British army, over 800 British, French and Danish troops have conducted Exercise Dragon Charge on the Tapa Central Training Area in Estonia to reaffirm their interoperability and agility. It was the final, major, force-on-force exercise for the Royal Welsh-led Battlegroup, who come to the end of their six-month tour in Estonia serving as NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) on Europe’s eastern flank.

Russia is buying millions of artillery shells and rockets from North Korea, hinting at the Kremlin’s supply-chain issues for military equipment, the New York Times reported, citing declassified American intelligence. The exact weaponry, timing and size of shipment remain unclear, but US officials stressed that they expect Russia to buy additional military material from Pyongyang as it struggles with Western sanctions and export controls amid President Vladimir Putin’s assault on neighboring Ukraine. The North Korea disclosure comes after Russia received its first shipment of drones from Iran last week as Moscow turns to pariah states to replenish its depleted military supplies.

The BQM-177A subsonic aerial target achieved full operational capability during a launch and intercept as part of Pacific Vanguard 2022 (PV 22) in the Philippine Sea on August 28. The US Navy’s next-generation target was launched from Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3) for a SM-2 intercept exercise for USS Barry (DDG 52) and Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth (FFH 157).

WATCH: Brazil commissions its first Scorpène type submarine: Riachuelo