Defense Industry Daily

Foster Miller won a $10.7 million contract modification to exercise Option Year One for production, engineering support and post production support of the MK 2 Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) series systems and Talon systems. The services under this contract cover the production of systems, depot level repair parts, initial spares kits, consumables, repair parts and approved accessories. Engineering support services such as configuration management, engineering enhancements, reviews, reporting and shipping are also included. The MTRS MK2 provides a man-transportable capability to remotely perform reconnaissance. Estimated completion will be by March 2026.

Boeing won a $95 million contract modification, which increases the contract ceiling to provide depot level maintenance and modification efforts support for F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft inspections, modifications, and repairs, as well as F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G inner wing panel modifications and repairs. Work will take place in Florida, California, Missouri, Washington and California. Estimated completion will be by December 2022.

It has been disclosed that Uganda has chosen India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to provide maintenance and technical support for its fleet of five Su-30 fighters. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Uganda Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Charles Lutaaya at the Indian High Commission in Kampala on March 4.

Hungarian Defense Ministry Undersecretary Gaspar Maroth said that 40 units of Turkish-built ‘Gidran’ tactical wheeled armored vehicles were delivered to the country’s Armed Forces. Gidran is the name given to Turkish company Nurol Makina’s Ejder Yalç?n 4×4 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which are being produced under licenses.

Hanwha Defense partnered with Lockheed Martin UK bidding on a key British Army artillery program. The South Korean defense contractor announced March 21 that Lockheed had become the latest industry member to join Team Thunder, the group bidding to secure a $1 billion) deal to supply 155mm self-propelled howitzers to the Army.

Boeing subsidiary Insitu Pacific has been selected by Australia’s Department of Defence to supply the Australian Army with 24 Integrator unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) under an A$650 million investment programme aimed at addressing LAND 129 Phase 3 project requirements. According to the DoD, the initial contract period with Insitu Pacific – which includes deliver and support of the UASs as well as associated ground systems and prime systems integrator services – will be worth A$307 million. Production has already commenced, with delivery expected between 2023 and 2024.

WATCH: Turkey deploys Gidran armored vehicles in Hungary

Northrop Grumman won a $17.3 million deal for depot level repair.  This follow-on contract includes: maintenance, modifications, repairs, alteration, upgrades of systems and spares for the AN/AQS-24 Sonar Detecting Set (all variants), Common Post Mission Analysis and Intermediate Level Test Equipment to support the Navy for the currently deployed airborne mine countermeasures legacy systems. The AQS-24A is a helicopter towed airborne Sonar mine countermeasure detection system equipped with a side scan sonar to detect and classify underwater mines. Work will take place in Maryland. Expected completion is in October 2026.

The UH-60V variant has been inducted into service with the 106th Aviation Regiment at the Illinois Army National Guard. Around 60 pilots were trained to operate the V variant and they did that by first undergoing six weeks of training on the UH-60M before spending another two weeks for a training support plan to be qualified.

Israeli Steadicopter and Smart Shooter have unveiled the Golden Eagle – an unmanned helicopter with precise hit capabilities. Based on the Black Eagle 50E platform, the Golden Eagle incorporates AI-based technology and Smart Shooter’s SMASH Dragon system. The AI-based technology enables superior situational awareness and autonomous multi-target classification and tracking. The SMASH Dragon, a remotely-operated robotic weaponry payload, locks on the target, tracks it and ensures precise target hit.

UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, visited South Korea and the UAE has expressed interest in KAI’s T-50. The UAE had recently announced its decision to buy the L-15 advanced jet trainer from China.

Defense News reports that according to Defense Minister Jana Ernochová, the Czech Republic plans to buy more UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters for the military because Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown that the country’s current fleet is “insufficient.” “At the Ministry of Defence, we have all the prerequisites to catch up as soon as possible in terms of defence spending,” ernochová was cited as saying in a statement released by the ministry. The minister was alluding to Prague’s ambitions to increase military spending to 2% of GDP in order to meet its NATO obligation.

Australia will designate the Boeing Loyal Wingman unmanned aircraft as the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, Defense Minister Peter Dutton announced. “The introduction of the new popular name is a rare and special moment in aviation history for our RAAF partners and industry team of over 35 Australian suppliers,” said Glen Ferguson, director Airpower Teaming System Australia and International.

WATCH: UH-60 Black Hawk: The Front Line Utility Helicopter

The Lockheed LC-130 is a ski-equipped aircraft that supports US missions in the Arctic and Antarctic. The aircraft requires rocket-assisted-takeoff (RATO) rockets for take-off when carrying heavy loads over snow or ice. However, the LC-130 was upgraded with T56-8-15A 3.5 engines that negate the need for RATO rockets.

FLIR Systems won a $19.3 million deal for maintenance and overhaul of the UH-60 turret. The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is March 16, 2027.

Sikorsky won a $52.5 million contract modification, which adds scope to procure long lead items in support of full rate production, Lot 7, CH-53K aircraft for the government of Israel. In February 2021, the Israel Ministry of Defense announced that it chose CH-53K as its next heavy-lift helicopter, over Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook. The new chopper will replace the country’s five decades-old CH-53D Sea Stallion Yasur helicopter. Work under the modification will take place in Connecticut. Estimated completion date is in December 2022.

Russia’s military has reportedly fired a hypersonic ballistic missile into Ukraine. The defense ministry in Moscow said, that it destroyed a big underground arms depot in western Ukraine. If confirmed it would be Russia’s first use in this war of the Kinzhal, or Dagger, ballistic missile launched from the air, most likely by a MiG-31 warplane.

Fincantieri said it delivered the first of seven Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ships (PPA – Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) “Paolo Thaon di Revel.” The PPAs are built at the Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, with deliveries expected until 2026, and they are part of the renewal plan of the operational lines of the Italian Navy vessels, approved by the Government and Parliament and started in May 2015 (“Naval Act”) under the aegis of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for cooperation on arms).

Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems have laid the keel beam for New Zealand’s first P-8A maritime patrol aircraft. This process, also called ‘keeling,’ was done at the Spirit AeroSystems facility where all Boeing 737 fuselages, nacelles and pylons are designed and built.

Srinjoy Chowdhury of Times Now says the Indian government will soon place an order with Russia for 12 new Su-30 fighters. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to approve the purchase during a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Council next week.

WATCH: Russia Fires Kinzhal Hypersonic Missiles in Ukraine

The US Air Force is proceeding to install the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) on several F-16s for flight testing. Northrop Grumman was selected last year to deploy a new electronic warfare suite for the F-16. The new contract, awarded on Mar. 10, will allow the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), Developmental Test/Operational Test (DT/OT), and Operational Assessment (OA) phases to be carried out in early 2023.

The US Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and Boeing recently completed a critical design review for the Protected Tactical SATCOM Prototype (PTS-P). PTS-P features an on-board processor of the US military’s jam-resistant Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW), providing users in-theater anti-jam capability with network routing.

Italian company Beretta has won, through Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), a contract to supply 3,500 PMX submachine guns in 9×19 mm caliber to the Saudi Royal Guard. According to Beretta, this follows two years of tests that led to the qualification of the PMX both by GAMI. The contract also includes a small batch of accessories.

General Dynamics European Land Systems` local company GDELS-Romania (GDELS-RO) signed an agreement for the creation of an industrial consortium with C.N. ROMARM Uzina Mecanica Bucuresti (UMB) for the production of wheeled armored vehicles in Romania. The signing ceremony took place on March 15 in the newly established vehicle production facility at UMB in Bucharest. The event was attended by the Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciuca, the Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dancu, the Minister of Economy, Florin Sp?taru, as well as the United States Charge D’ Affairs to Romania, David Muniz and GDELS President, Alfonso Ramonet.

Indonesia’s military took delivery of the first batch of Kaplan MT/Harimau medium-weight tanks jointly produced by Ankara-based FNSS and Indonesian company PT Pindad. This marks the first export of Turkish-developed tank. Ismail Demir, head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) of Turkey said the tanks will be produced in both countries and that the contract included technology transfer. He revealed that mass production of Kaplan MT has begun and will continue.

Boeing won a $55.4 million order, which procures P-8A training systems hardware for the government of Korea. Specifically, this order provides for the production and delivery of one Operational Flight Trainer with Brief/Debrief Station, one Weapons Tactics Trainer with Brief/Debrief Station, one Virtual Maintenance Trainer, one Maintenance Support Cabinet, one 10-seat plus one instructor seat Maintenance Electronic Classroom (EC), one Training System Support Center, one 10-seat plus one instructor seat Mission Systems Desktop Trainer EC, one 10-seat plus one instructor seat Flight Management Systems Trainer EC, and one 10-seat plus one instructor seat Aircrew EC. Additionally, this order provides contracts, logistics, engineering and management technical expertise required for the procurement, build, inspection and acceptance of the Phase 1 hardware for the P-8A training system for the government of Korea. Work will take place in Missouri and Florida. Estimated completion is in July 2025.

Rolls-Royce won an $8.6 million ordering agreement, which provides for sovereign repair capability development as well as facility standup for the V-22 AE 1107C engine to include establishment of an indigenous depot-level maintenance and repair capability for the Rolls-Royce AE 1107C engine and integration of an AE 1107C engine test cell into existing Kawasaki Heavy Industries facilities in  support of the government of Japan. Work will take place in Indiana and Japan. Estimated completion will be in June 2024.

WATCH: Harimau Hitam / Kaplan MT, the new face of the medium tank.

The 40th Flight Test Squadron had the rare opportunity to fly five different types of aircraft assigned to the unit all together for one time on January 31. The F-15EX, F-15C, F-15E, F-16, and A-10 were all at Eglin Air Force Base for testing of upgraded systems. The formation represented for the first and last time, all five fighters in the 96th Test Wing inventory.

Speaking at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event on March 14, the US Pacific Air Forces commander said new weapon systems such as the F-15EX are required in order to prepare for Indo-Pacific conflict. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said the aging F-15C, now based in Japan, needs to be replaced with the newer F-15EX. The new fighter is able to stay airborne for up to four hours without aerial refueling and can carry hypersonic weapons in future, Wilsbach added.

The Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) received new smart sub-surface vessels along with missiles and speedboats. The new equipment were handed over to the IRGC’s naval forces during a ceremony in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on March 15, Iranian state-owned media reported.

The Irish Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed the acquisition of two second-hand Lake-class inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) from New Zealand to equip its naval service. The two ships, the former HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki, are intended to replace the Irish Naval Service’s (INS’s) Peacock (P 41)-class coastal patrol ships LÉ Orla (P 41) and LÉ Ciara (P 42) following their planned withdrawal from service.

Ukraine’s military has claimed that a Russian surveillance drone crossed into Polish airspace before reentering Ukrainian airspace, where it was shot down. The destroyed Russian drone is believed to be Forpost UAV, a license-produced version of the IAI Searcher II reconnaissance drone, built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Licenses were sold to Russia in 2015, and the country is now believed to operate several dozens of such drones.

A North Korean projectile, likely a ballistic missile, fired Wednesday exploded mid-air at an altitude of below 20km, the South’s military claimed. The projectile is said to have been shot from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at around 9:30 a.m., South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

WATCH: F-15EX – Is the most heavily armed USAF jet worth it?

The US Navy took delivery of the newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine Montana (SSN 794) on Monday. Montana (SSN 794) completed sea trials last month. It is the third of the 10-ship group of Virginia-class submarines known as Block IV. Virginia-class submarines displace 7,835 tons, with a hull length of 377 feet and a diameter of 34 feet. They are capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots and can dive to a depth greater than 800 feet, while carrying Mark 48 advanced capability torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Overhaul Support Services LLC won two contracts in support of the CH-47 Chinook. swashplates. A $15.8 million deal ist to overhaul aft control swashplates for the helicopter. A $12.5 million contract provides the overhaul of forward control swashplates. Estimated completion date is March 13, 2027. The CH-47 Chinook helicopter transports troops, artillery, supplies and equipment to the battlefield with other applications ranging from medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, parachute drop, search and rescue to disaster relief, firefighting and heavy construction.

Israel Shipyards, which manufactures vessels, announced Sunday that it has won an agreement to supply two vessels and various services to a government customer in Africa. The value of the deal, in which Israel Shipyards will supply the vessels over a period of about 22 months, is about 10.7 million euros. The company does not specify the model of the vessel, but Israel Defense has learned it is a new model made by Israel Shipyards that is being sold for the first time.

Latvian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Artis Pabriks has confirmed the country’s interest in buying Bayraktar TB2 combat drones from Turkey, which have been used on battlefields in Syria, Libya, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Iraq; and now in Ukraine. In an interview with Nikkei Asia on March 12, Pabriks said Latvia “is interested in acquiring from Turkey the kind of armed drones Ukraine’s military has been using against invading Russian forces.”

Germany will buy up to 35 copies of the F-35 fighter jet, reversing years-long plans that saw the fifth-generation warplane eliminated from consideration, defense leaders announced Monday. The planes will take over by 2030 the nuclear-weapons mission from the aging fleet of Tornado aircraft, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said during a joint statement with Air Force Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz in Berlin.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is expected to begin receiving the first tranche of 17 new Mil Mi-17 twin-engine multirole transport helicopters from Russia by the end of 2023, amid the continuing Ukrainian conflict. Philippines Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement to the media that the contract and the initial down payment for the Mi-17 acquisition project had been completed before Russia began its military operations in Ukraine.

WATCH: C-130 Hercules | What It’s Like To Fly Inside

Northrop Grumman won a $17 million modification, which adds scope to provide for the production, delivery, and installation of Link 16 Crypto-Modernization/Hybrid Beyond Line of Sight capabilities on 15 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness. Work will take place in Florida, Virginia, Illinois, California and New York. Estimated completion date is May 2023.

The US Air Force, the US Navy, and the US Marine Corps will have an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle that will need to increase the combat capability, accuracy, and concentration of the US military during air battles. The ‘Aggressor’ aircraft, dubbed Bandit, is a training UAV and its construction has been given the green light, Jane’s reports.

Saudi Arabia’s Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems (ACES) inked an agreement with a Chinese defense firm to design and manufacture military drones in the kingdom. The joint venture is called “Aerial Solutions”. It was announced during the World Defense Show 2022, held from March 6 to 9 in Riyadh.

Israeli small arms manufacture Emtan has won the Spanish Civil Guard contract for the supply of a new MZ-4P 5.56 x 45 mm caliber assault rifle to equip personnel from various units worth almost six million euros – 5,929,000 euros. According to Infodefensa.com, the price offered per unit is 850 euros, without VAT. The contract initially contemplates the supply of a minimum of 3,500 units over the next two years, although everything indicates that the final order will be considerably higher.

During the acquisition of three Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 and KC-130J “Super Hercules” aircraft each, the German Air Force decided to equip all aircraft with HENSOLDT’s latest generation of defence sensor technology. With MILDS Block 2, the company is supplying a total of 35 sensors (five per aircraft and five units for lab use) to Danish company Terma A/S, which is managing the integration of the systems at Lockheed Martin through Terma Inc. The contracts were signed in 2020. So far, 20 sensors and the ordered desiccant-kits have already been delivered. By January 2023, the remaining 15 sensors will be delivered. The first “Hercules” for the German Air Force was handed over in Évreux/Fauville (France) on February 19, 2022 to the Franco-German air-transport squadron. With MILDS Block 2, HENSOLDT is also helping to close the capability gap created by the retirement of the C-160 “Transall”.

A Global Hawk acquired by Japan has arrived home at Misawa Air Base on the morning of March 12. It is the first of three unmanned aerial vehicles ordered by Japan. The Global Hawk’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance collection capabilities to support joint combatant forces in worldwide peacetime, contingency and crisis operations. The system can be used to cooperatively address common regional challenges such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, piracy, terrorism and other issues affecting the region.

WATCH: First Flight of 1st Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules for the Luftwaffe (German Air Force)

Bell Boeing won a $24.3 million contract modification, which increases scope to provide additional MV-22 Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization in-service and over and above repair support. 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. Work will take place in Pennsylvania and Texas. Estimated completion will be in June 2023.

General Dynamics won a $12.3 million contract modification for Abrams systems technical support. The M1 Abrams is a third generation American main battle tank. An upgrade of the Abrams M1A1 main battle tank, the M1A2 features an improved commander’s weapon station, independent thermal viewer, an inter-vehicular information system, and an enhanced position/navigation system. Work under the modification will take place in Michigan. Estimated completion date is February 28, 2023.

Aviation won a $13 million deal, which provides pilot, enlisted aircrew, and maintenance training support services as well as program management and administrative support services for the government of Kuwait. Work will take place in Oklahoma and Kuwait. Estimated completion date is in March 2025.

The Defense Ministry of Slovakia has received word from the United States that the delivery of F-16s that it has ordered will be delayed by 12 to 14 months. The Pentagon awarded a $799 million contract to Lockheed Martin for the production of 14 F-16 Block 70 fighters back in 2019. The jets will now arrive home in 2024.

A foreign company has approached Ukraine’s state-owned Ukroboronprom to provide the country’s Air Force with six Antonov AN-158 twin-engine passenger aircraft. Although these aircraft cannot participate in combat, they can perform special flights to deliver everything the Air Force needs under wartime conditions, Ukroboronprom’s head Yuriy Husyev said in a statement. The aircraft will first undergo maintenance and repair.

India has admitted that one of its BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was accidentally fired into Pakistan on March 9. The missile was fired due to a technical malfunction during routine maintenance. According to Pakistan, the missile landed in an area called Mian Channu. No one was hurt in the incident.

WATCH: Slovak Air Force student pilots training in Tucson for transition to the new Block 70 F-16s.

Austal won a $12.3 million contract modification to exercise an option for littoral combat ship (LCS) industrial post-delivery availability support for USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32). The USS Santa Barbara is the US Navy’s 16th Independence littoral combat ship (LCS) variant. The LCS programme will see the construction of the vessels in the Freedom-class and the Independence-class variants. Work will take place in Alabama and Massachusetts. Expected completion will be by December 2022.

A joint exercise between the air forces of Pakistan and the United States was concluded recently. F-16s from Shaw Air Force Base participate in the exercise which started on February 26. The exercise aimed to promote interoperability when faced with complicated realistic scenarios.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog travelled to Turkey on Wednesday, where he spent a 24-hour visit. “The relationship with Turkey has had its ups and downs in recent years — we will not agree on everything, but we will try to restart relations,” Herzog said in a statement ahead of his departure. The last visit by an Israeli president to Turkey took place in 2007.

The United Kingdom is sending more weapons to Ukraine to help in the defensive effort against Russia’s invasion, the Defense Secretary has said. Ben Wallace told MPs that the UK has delivered 3,615 anti-tank weapons and will shortly be supplying a “small consignment” of Javelin anti-tank missiles.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has reportedly commissioned two new Type 052D Destroyers. The destroyers are to be named the Zhanjiang and the Jiaozuo, Chinese military reported. After the decommissioning of the old Zhanjiang, a Type 051 destroyer with the hull number of 165, in August 2020, the new Zhanjiang, a new-generation destroyer with the same hull number as the old ship, entered service more than a year later.

The Philippines has received the first batch of two Turkey-made T129 Tactical Reconnaissance and Attack Helicopters (ATAK). The country had ordered six helicopters designed and developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The Philippines is the first country abroad to use the ATAK. It is buying the six choppers worth approximately $280 million.

WATCH: PAF-USAF BILATERAL AIR EXERCISE FALCON TALON CULMINATES AT AN OPERATIONAL AIR BASE

Northrop Grumman won a $97.3 million contract modification, which exercises options to provide continued test, maintenance, logistics and sustainment engineering support for MQ-4C Triton air vehicles, mission control and operator training systems. This modification also provides continued field service representative’s technical support to ensure that the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial system (UAS) aircraft are mission-capable for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions supporting aircraft early operational capability and initial operating capability. Additionally, this modification provides continued reach-back engineering support for both the Navy and the government of Australia MQ-4C Triton UAS assets. Work will take place in Maryland, California, Florida and various other locations outside the continental US. Estimated completion date is in March 2023.

Bering Global Solutions won a $88.6 million deal for base operating support (BOS) services at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center and Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms. The work to be performed provides for labor, supervision, management, and materials (except those specified as government-furnished), to perform the following BOS service functions: facility investment, custodial, pest control, integrated solid waste management, grounds maintenance, pavement clearance, water (operation and maintenance), and environmental services. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion will be by September 2030.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) unveiled two missile and drone tunnel bases built at the heart of high mountains. IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami said during the unveiling ceremony on March 5 that the bases will house ground-to-ground missile systems with advanced equipment, as well as attack drones that can penetrate the enemy’s radar and defense networks, government-owned PressTV reported.

A Polish plan to transfer its entire fleet of MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’ combat aircraft to help the war effort in Ukraine was thrown into doubt with the US government saying it does not believe the proposal is tenable. The transfer of NATO-operated MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’ fighters and Sukhoi Su-25 ‘Frogfoot’ ground-attack aircraft to Kyiv appeared to be back on when the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it was willing to transfer its entire fleet of 27 MiG-29s to the US Air Force’s Ramstein Air Base in Germany for onward delivery to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The US sent two PATRIOT surface-to-air missile batteries to Poland in preparation to enforce a no-fly zone over that country and parts of its border with Ukraine. “At the direction of the Secretary of Defense and at the invitation of our Polish allies, General Wolters, Commander of US European Command, has directed US Army Europe and Africa to reposition two Patriot Batteries to Poland,” United States European Command (EUCOM) spokesman Capt. Adam Miller said in a statement.

India’s state run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) have started manufacturing activities of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. “HAL in association with ADA has started manufacturing activities of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA),” HAL announced.

WATCH: Poland To Send MIG-29 Jets To Ramstein Air Base

Raytheon won a $13.6 million deal, which provides test, evaluation and systems engineering support, to include mission planning, test plans and procedures, mission conduct and data collection, real-time range safety mission support, mission data analyses and reporting, operations research support, and technical management support for the Missile Defense Agency/AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense Program. Work will take place in California, Hawaii, New Mexico. Expected completion date is in March 2026.

A Mirage F1 from Airborne Tactical Advantage Company crashed near Luke Air Force Base on February 10 after having low fuel pressure, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The engine flamed out and the pilot could not restart the engine. Unable to reach Luke Air Force Base, the pilot steered the aircraft to a desert area before ejecting.

The Turkish F-16 jet’s AESA radar prototype, developed by electronics enterprise, ASELSAN is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year. The AESA Radar will be integrated into the F-16 Block 30 platform in service with the Turkish Air Force for further tests and qualification.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries gave the OK for two projects that aim to locally manufacture components for the US-origin Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. The information was confirmed by Deputy Governor for the Industry Sector, Eng. Qassim bin Abdulghani Al-Maimani. Riyadh will now manufacture THAAD interceptor launchers and missile containers, reported SDArabia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday said there are “credible reports” of Russian forces committing war crimes in ongoings attack on Ukraine by firing on fleeing civilians. “There are credible reports of civilians coming under fire as they tried to evacuate,” said Stoltenberg, speaking to reporters after a meeting with Latvian President Egils Levits, at the Riga Castle in Latvia. “Targeting civilians is a war crime. And it’s totally unacceptable. We need real humanitarian corridors that are fully respected.”

India was supposed to hold a firepower demonstration today in Rajasthan but Exercise Vayu Shakti 2022 has been postponed. Anonymous sources told the Hindu that the event was postponed “due to the developing situation” and a new date will be decided later. 148 aircraft including 109 fighters were supposed to be participating. The exercise was last held in 2019.

WATCH: British Army Unveils The NEW CHALLENGER 3 Main Battle Tank!

Lockheed Martin won a $869.9 million contract modification, which adds scope for integrating mission and weapon systems capability development, including flight-test hardware, through system functional review to development test complete on the F-35A, F-35B, F-35C aircraft. Work will take place in Texas, New Hampshire, Florida, Maryland, California, Missouri and Arizona. Estimated completion will be in December 2026.

The US Air Force and Boeing have concluded that delivery of the new Air Force One is now 17 months behind schedule. This means the transport will not be delivered by 2024. The delay was first reported by Breaking Defense, which says the information came from two of its sources. A Boeing spokesperson said the company is working “closely with the Air Force on a new approved schedule baseline.”

The Finnish Ministry of Defense has named solutions by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to advance to the second and final round of negotiations for Finland’s new, enhanced, high-altitude, short-to-medium range ground-based air-defense system (GBADS) requirement.

The Pentagon is likely to supply F-16 combat jets to Poland if it hands over MiG-29s to Ukraine. NATO rejected Ukraine’s pleas to impose a no-fly zone to halt Russia’s bombing. Its chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance would not intervene in the conflict over fears of a direct class with Russia that could spiral into a wider conflict.

Russia has fired 600 missiles since its invasion of Ukraine began, a senior US defense official said Sunday, and it has committed approximately 95% of its amassed combat power inside Ukraine, reports CNN. The US observed ongoing fighting in Kherson and Mykolaiv on Sunday and Russian forces are still trying to encircle Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Mariupol, according to the official.

Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE), which is a joint venture between the global aerospace and technology business, Paramount Group and one of Kazakhstan’s leading defense and engineering companies, Kazpetromash, has announced its latest delivery of Arlan 4×4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in accordance with that nation’s State Defense Order. Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering has for over the past four years delivered several batches of the Arlan APC to the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, where they have since been in operation.

WATCH: US and Poland “working actively” on a deal to supply Ukraine with fighter jets | DW News

Lockheed Martin won a not-to-exceed contract modification, which adds scope for the procurement, delivery, installation, and configuration of 22 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter training devices. The total quantity of training devices includes full mission simulators, multispectral database, and interactive courseware. Additionally, this modification provides non-recurring engineering to identify and integrate a replacement rechargeable battery module to be installed within the blade server system of pilot training devices in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will take place in Texas and Florida. Estimated completion will be in December 2027.

Sikorsky Aircraft won a $15.9 million modification, which adds scope to provide interim contractor support and procure interior spares for VH-92A low rate initial production Lot II aircraft. The Marine One VH-92A is the next-generation presidential transport helicopter being developed for the US Marine Corps. Sikorsky Aircraft is responsible for the production. Work will take place in Washington, Illinois, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New York. Estimated completion will be in March 2023.

Israel Defense reports that the Mozambican army has intercepted and neutralized 3 ISIS drone squads in the north of the country with the tactical systems provided by the Israeli company MCTECH RF Technologies. According to a report by the army, the drones were apparently sent for the purposes of gathering intelligence and bombarding the soldiers. According MCTECH, the system model MC-Horizon D360BP V3 tactical systems were supplied to the Mozambican army at the end of 2021.

According to local media, the German government had to backtrack on the planned delivery of 2,700 East German-era Strela anti-aircraft missiles to the Ukrainian army. The magazine Der Spiegel reported that  a large proportion of the Strela missiles in the German army depots are not only completely outdated, they are also no longer usable. The German army had already taken the East German-era system out of the troops’ operations in 2014 “for security reasons”, according to a confidential note on the weapon system.

NATO is increasing its presence on the north-eastern flank of Allied territory in response to the Russian troop concentration and subsequent aggressive incursion by Russian forces into Ukraine. Now all four multinational NATO task forces have been reinforced with additional personnel and materiel. Britain, the lead nation of the NATO battalion in Estonia, has sent another 850 soldiers and more Challenger tanks there, plus 350 more troops to Poland. It has also put another 1,000 on standby to help with refugees, and sent another four fighter jets to Cyprus, while sending two ships to the eastern Mediterranean.

Indonesia Air Force Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo disclosed that a number of pilots have been shortlisted for conversion to the Rafale fighter. “We have prepared several pilots, but we have not determined the number. However, we have readied the criteria and those who are eligible to fly the Rafale,” Prasetyo said on March 4.

WATCH: How Powerful is Javelin Anti-Tank Missile

Northrop Grumman Systems won a $22.6 million order, which provides for maintenance support to the E-2D aircraft throughout its entire life-cycle using operationally supportable and interoperable solutions. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform. It features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability and upgraded aircraft systems that will improve supportability and increase readiness. Work will take place in Florida and New York. Estimated completion will be in February 2025.

The MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has surpassed 2 million flight hours in support of global customers. The workhorse unmanned aircraft combines unmatched persistence and mission flexibility with a >90% Mission Capable Rate, which puts the MQ-9A in a class by itself, the company said in a statement.

Turkish Navy’s multipurpose amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu has started its sea trials. Sedef Shipyard Defense Industry Projects Manager Selim Buldano?lu revealed to Daily Sabah the construction of the ship has been completed and that the sea tests have begun.

The French defense ministry said Wednesday it has deployed Rafale combat jets to Poland. Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, said on February 27 that the bloc would provide funds to Ukraine to acquire fighter jets from unidentified member states.

Ukraine’s state-owned Ukroboronprom said it has repaired and restored several military hardware and weapons for use by the Army as the war with Russia rages on for the seventh day. Over the past two days, the company said it repaired more than 10 armored vehicles, six air defense systems and several aircraft; besides undertaking on-site repair works. It has also ramped up production of machine guns, cruise missiles, Czech Hedgehog anti-tank fortification systems and explosives.

India is now gearing to counter the impact of new economic sanctions on Russia by the US and Europe that could hamper armaments and military spares supplies from Moscow. Russia has been the largest arms supplier to India since the early 1970s. Today, 60% of India’s military hardware inventory is from Russia or the former Soviet Union and the bulk of India’s license-based defense manufacturing comes from Russia.

WATCH: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper

Boeing won a $17.7 million contract modification, which increases the scope to procure the necessary test and engineering support to complete the development of the Next Generation Jammer – Mid-Band system and the phased replacement of the AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System currently mounted to the EA-18G aircraft. The AN/ALQ-99 intercepts and automatically processes radar signals and power manages the system’s transmitters to effectively jam large numbers of diverse radar threats with very high effective radiated power. The AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system is part of a larger NGJ system that will augment, and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) currently used on the EA-18G Growler aircraft for Airborne Electronic Attack. Work will take place in Missouri and Maryland. Estimated completion will be in February 2023.

BAE Systems and the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense’s Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) completed flight test of advanced Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) technology at a Department of Defense flight test range. The technology enables the rapid infusion of new payloads and platforms into the fleet to quickly enhance mission effectiveness and counter adversary technology..

Leonardo, an Italian aerospace firm, is preparing to deliver another two Eurofighters to Kuwait in the middle of this month, Reuters reports. So far, 2 out of the 28 aircraft ordered have been delivered.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced that new Bayraktar TB2 combat drones have arrived from Turkey and are being deployed in the field. The delivery comes amidst the Russian invasion into Ukrainian borders. These new drones add onto the 12 Bayraktar TB2s in Ukraine’s inventory being used in the air and naval forces. Ukraine shared grainy aerial images of Russian tanks and missile batteries destroyed by their Bayraktar drones. A black-and-white footage that went viral on Twitter Sunday showed a massive explosion ripping through what appears to be a Russian convoy.

According to the Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, his country will receive more Stinger and Javelin anti-aircraft missiles from abroad. Turkey will also deliver more drones. Amidst the Russian War in the Ukraine, several western countries like Germany, Finland, Sweden or Denmark have pledged arms to Ukraine to ward off the Russian invasion.

Thailand’s procurement of S26T diesel-electric submarines from China has hit rough seas with Germany’s MTU refusing to supply engines that power the vessels. The Asian country decided in 2015 to buy three S26T submarines, an export version of the Type 039A (Yuan class). A $390 million contract for the first boat was signed with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) in 2017, with delivery expected in 2024.

WATCH: Why Guided Anti-Tank Missiles—Like Javelins—Are Vital in Ukraine’s Fight Against Russia

Lockheed Martin won a $128.2 million contract modification by the US Air Force for the exercise of an option for hardware spares and the partial exercise of an option for an additional 123 Lot 20 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) – Extended Range missiles with containers. According to the company, JASSM is a long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the US and allied forces. Designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets, JASSM’s significant standoff range keeps aircrews well out of danger from hostile air defense systems. Work will take place in Florida and Alabama. Expected completion date is January 30, 2026.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) announced the awards of three prototype agreements worth approximately $1.8 billion to establish the foundation for Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL), a mesh network of 126 optically-interconnected space vehicles (SV). The SVs will provide a resilient, low-latency, high-volume data transport communication system, and be ready for launch starting in September 2024.

Kellogg Brown & Root Services won a $7.7 million contract modification for base operating support at several locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The work to be performed provides for but is not limited to, all management, supervision, tools, materials, supplies, labor and transportation services necessary to perform galley services, laundry services, facility management, emergency service requests, urgent service, routing service, preventive maintenance, inspection, testing and certification, facilities investment, custodial, pest control service, integrated solid waste, grounds maintenance, wastewater, and base support vehicles, at Jebel Ali, Fujairah, Sas Al Nahkl and Al Minhad, United Arab Emirates. Work will take place in the UAE. Expected completion date is February 28, 2023.

The Italian Ministry of Defense’s Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness Directorate (DAAA) recently approved a contract for the technical-logistical support of the Air Force’s C-130J Super Hercules airlifter fleet. The agreement, which lasts five years and is worth a total of €380 million, was signed on January 28, 2022, between the Italian Air Force and the Temporary Business Grouping (RTI) formed by Leonardo, Avio Aero and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

Finland will send weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Monday. This marks a shift in policy. The shipment will include 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 bullets, 1,500 anti-tank weapons and 70,000 food packages, Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said.

A cruise missile strike at the largest square of Europe, Freedom Square in Kharkiv leading to dozens of victims should be counted as a war crime said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “The cruise missile that struck Kharkiv, fired from the Russian city of Belgorod is terror against the city. There was no military target on the square. Just as in those residential areas of Kharkiv hit by rocket artillery. The rocket aimed at the central square is an outright, undisguised terror,” the president said in a statement posted on the Ukrainian MoD’s website.

An anonymous defense official from India told The Hindu that Paris and New Delhi are close to concluding an agreement to develop the engine for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and French engine maker Safran will work together to develop the 125KN engine. Meanwhile, Girish S. Deodhare, Director General of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), says design configuration of the AMCA has been frozen.

WATCH: Italy Signs €380M Technical Logistical Support Contact for C-130J Fleet!

The US Air Force has selected Leidos Inc. to develop a $26 million prototype advanced high power microwave (HPM) weapon system to counter drones. “The new prototype will be called Mjölnir, the mythical Norse God Thor’s mighty hammer,” said Adrian Lucero, THOR program manager at AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. “Because THOR was so successful, we wanted to keep the new system’s name in the family.” Mjölnir is based on technology from the Tactical High-Power Operational Responder (THOR) program but with significant improvement in capabilities, reliability, and manufacturing capabilities. Leidos will deliver the prototype next year.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) used an Avenger Unmanned Aircraft System and five hardware-in-the-loop synthetic Avengers to autonomously search and follow an artificially-generated adversary. The live-virtual swarm utilized a simulated Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor network in addition to the government-furnished CODE autonomy engine to accomplish the mission.

The US Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet last week announced the launch of a new joint fleet of unmanned drones with allied nations to patrol vast swaths of the region’s volatile waters as tensions simmer with Iran. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads the 5th Fleet, told The Associated Press that 100 unmanned drones, both sailing and submersible, would dramatically multiply the surveillance capacities of the U.S. Navy

Ukraine reported the destruction of the Antonov An-225 Mriya airlifter on February 27, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba saying that the largest aircraft in the world was destroyed in a Russian strike on Hostomel Airport (also known as Antonov International Airport) on the northwestern outskirts of Kyiv.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union will ban Russian state-run media outlets from airing in the EU, as well as bar Russian aircraft from flying in EU airspace.

Zenetex LLC won an $8 million contract modification, which exercises an option to provide contractor support services for the MH-60R Multi Mission Helicopter for the government of Australia. The MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is considered to be the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter. The first low-rate initial production (LRIP) helicopters were remanufactured SH-60Bs, but the following MH-60Rs are all newbuilds. Work will take place in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in March 2023.

The Royal Australian Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth $49 Million to provide Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile integration and test effort for the formers F/A-18 E/F aircraft. This order provides Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile integration and test effort for the Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 E/F aircraft for the government of Australia. In February of 2020, the United States had approved Australia’s request to purchase 200 AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs) for its F-18 Super Hornet fighters in a contact estimated to be worth $990 million. Australia intends to use the missiles on its F-18 aircraft to provide enhanced capabilities in defense of critical sea-lanes.

WATCH: EU ups the ante with Russia; closes airspace, bans media

Oshkosh Defense won an $11.6 million contract modification for regional field service representatives to support fielding of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is designed for never-before-achieved speed, power and protected mobility outside the wire. Work will take place in Wisconsin. Estimated completion date is February 28, 2023.

The US Air Force has initiated the process of retiring its JSTARS fleet with the first production aircraft delivered #92-3289 being sent to retirement at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The jet left Robins Air Force Base on February 11.

The Turkish Navy’s Preveze (Type 209/1400)-class diesel electric submarine (SSK) mid-life upgrade (MLU) programme has achieved a new milestone with the successful completion of the critical design phase. Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) approved the critical design phase following the successful completion of sea acceptance trials of the inertial navigation system, salinity-depth-density measurement and cold-water systems, and static inverters in mid-February, according to an announcement by Turkish company STM.

Germany and Netherlands announced over the weekend that they will be supplying anti-tank weapons and FIM-92 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 FIM-92s will be transferred. Dutch government said in letters to parliament that 200 FIM-92s and 50 recoilless rifles with 400 warheads will be shipped to Ukraine.

The European Union will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons, in a show of support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday. Von der Leyen said the EU’s decision to finance arms purchases was “a watershed moment.” The EU traces its roots to post-World War II peace efforts and began as an economic alliance.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) has revealed a new utility landing craft that can carry armored vehicles and troops, and complement air cushioned landing craft in large landing missions. The revelation comes amidst hightened rhetoric in Chinese media circles of an impending invasion of Taiwan following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

WATCH: Germany to send weapons to Ukraine in policy reversal • FRANCE 24 English

FlightSafety International won a $32 million contract for the exercise of the KC-46 Aircrew Training System (ATS) Production Year 7 options. The contract modification is for the exercise of option contract line item numbers for additional weapon system trainers, boom operator trainers, fuselage trainer, pilot part task trainers, support equipment, McChord site activations, systems engineering and program management, summative evaluation and new refresher training scenarios. Work will take place in Oklahoma. Estimated completion date is January 7, 2024.

Sikorsky won a $42.2 million deal for non-personal technical services in support of sustainment of the H-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. The US Army Contracting Command is the contracting activity. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2026.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has delivered the first F-16 wing and vertical fin to Lockheed Martin, following the reopening of the F-16 wing assembly line at IAI. As a result of increased worldwide demand for the F-16 Block 70/72, IAI reopened the assembly lines that had been established in the 1980s to continue production of the F-16 aerostructures assembled at IAI. The F-16 wings and vertical fins will be shipped to the F-16 production and final assembly line in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.

The German ministry of Defense has contracted Thales to equip the former’s NH90 Multi Role Frigate Helicopter with FLASH SONICS dipping sonar and sonobuoy processing systems. The new configuration of the NH90 Multi Role Frigate Helicopter variant includes the latest processing technology which offers significant operational improvement. These helicopters will be the first to be equipped with the capability to process Thales new sonobuoy SonoFlash in addition to the FLASH world reference dipping sonar.

The Serbian Ministry of Defense placed an order for two Airbus C295 aircraft. The contract was signed in Madrid in the presence of senior government members of the Republic of Serbia and Spain. This contract will be accompanied by a Government-to-Government supervision agreement between the Ministries of Defense of Spain and the Republic of Serbia, which aims to study the development of future defence programmes between both nations. Airbus is committed to maintain and foster its close collaboration with the Republic of Serbia, which already operates Airbus military solutions.

Boeing has won a $103.7 million contract by the US Department of Defense as part of a foreign military sale for eight AH-6 light attack reconnaissance helicopters to Thailand. The contract also includes spares, training devices, support equipment, and technical publications for the Royal Thai Army.

WATCH: Thailand Orders AH-6 Light Attack Helicopters

Collins Aerospace won a $48.4 million contract, which provides developmental design and risk reduction engineering efforts for airborne very low frequency systems modernization in support of Airborne Strategic Command, Control, and Communications Program Office program capability requirements. The risk reduction effort is to meet requirements for the very low frequency integration into a C-130 aircraft. Specifically, this contract provides non-recurring engineering effort to address size, weight, and power cooling in the components, systems, subsystems, or weapons replaceable assembly, model based systems engineering development, weight reduction analysis, cyber security risk assessment, and logistics analysis. Work will take place in Texas and Iowa. Estimated completion is in March 2024.

The US Army has completed the deployment of 24 AH-64E V6 attack helicopters to South Korea. The 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade disclosed that the helicopters were all deployed to Camp Humphreys on February 16.

The UAE Ministry of Defense will soon sign a contract with Chinese company CATIC for 12 L-15 aircraft, with an option to add 36 aircraft of the same model in the future. “We have reached the final stages of negotiations with the Chinese side, and a final agreement will be concluded soon. He stressed that diversity is one of the characteristics of the UAE armed forces to obtain the best capabilities that fit their needs and achieve their strategic goals,” said Tariq Abdul Rahim Al Hosani, CEO of the Tawazun Economic Council.

The US State Department agreed for a local company to construct a Kuwait Ministry of Defense (KMOD) Headquarters Complex for the Kuwaiti Government for an estimated cost of $1 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

Saab has launched 5G communication system for military and crisis operations at the UMEX 2022 exhibition in the UAE. The so called ‘DeployNet’ was locally developed by Saab in the UAE It provides scalable 5G/LTE wireless network offering high-capacity bandwidth for today’s missions that rely on a multitude of information sources, sensors and user interaction. The compact system can be deployed rapidly, enabling high-capacity bandwidth in geographically remote areas, or reinforcement of damaged or limited local networks.

The US State Department of potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of large aircraft infrared countermeasures (LAIRCM) line replaceable units (LRUs) to Australia. The FMS has an estimated value of $122 million and includes associated equipment. The deal also includes LAIRCM control indicator unit replacements (CIURs), advanced threat warning (ATW) missile sensors, smart card assemblies (SCAs), high-capacity cards/user data memory cards (HCCs/UDMs) and simple key loaders.

WATCH: Many Things You Probably Didn’t Know About C-130 Hercules