Defense Industry Daily

Lockheed Martin Missiles won a $101.3 million contract modification for procurement of Hellfire missiles and containers. Hellfire is an air-to-ground, laser guided, subsonic missile with significant anti-tank capacity. It can also be used as an air-to-air weapon against helicopters or slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft. It has also been fielded on surface platforms in the surface-to-surface and surface-to-air roles. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2024.

Northrop Grumman won a $28.7 million contract modification, which provides for the procurement of one additional G/ATOR system for the Air Force. The G/ATOR program is managed within the portfolio of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. G/ATOR is an expeditionary, three-dimensional, short-to-medium-range, multi-role radar system designed to detect low-observable targets with low radar cross sections such as rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles, and UAVs. Estimated completion will be in January 2025.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Meteor Aerospace, a privately-owned producer of unmanned systems and advanced missiles, have recently signed a memorandum of understanding to promote mutual cooperation. Under the agreement, the companies will cooperate in developing advanced offensive systems. The agreement also includes joint investment in R&D, including engineering development, as well as joint marketing.

THEON Sensors won a contract for the supply of THERMIS CS thermal imaging systems following a recent international tender by the UK Ministry of Defense for the procurement and support of Sniper In-Line Low Light System (SILLS) – Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) Thermal Sight Weapon Sight 2.

India’s Cabinet Committee on Security has decided on September 8 to clear the way for the purchase of 56 C295 transport aircraft. It also approves the conversion of six A319 airliners from Air India into airborne early warning (AEW) platforms. Forty of those C295s will be built in India by Airbus along with Tata. The conversion of the A319s means that India has abandoned plans to acquire A330s from Airbus for the early warning project.

The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has contracted Daewoo Shipbuilding to build a 3,600-ton-class submarine – the country’s largest and most advanced ever – with the capability to launch ballistic missiles from vertical launchers. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the signing of a 985.7 billion won (US$853 million) contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. on Friday to build a new 3,600-ton-class submarine equipped with vertically launched SLBMs.

Watch: Why AGM 114 Hellfire missile becomes one of America’s favorite missiles

The Ross Group won a $10.6 million deal, which provides services for the phased demolition and construction of selected Ramp 200 and 300 fuel hydrants for KC-46A aircraft. The new work includes, but is not limited to, modify the current aircraft parking layout, demolish four existing aircraft direct fueling stations, demolish and replace six aircraft direct fueling stations suitable for KC-46A aircraft refueling operations, modify the existing fuel piping laterals, demolish and replace aircraft rated pavement on Ramps 200 and 300, as required, to demolish and install new hydrant pits and fuel piping, provide mooring points at all KC-46A parking spaces, and re-stripe aircraft parking positions and movement lanes on the 200 and 300 ramps. The KC-46A is a wide-body, multi-mission aircraft capable of transporting fuel, cargo, passengers, and patients. Work will take place in California and is expected to be finished by September 2022.

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded L-3 Communications $173 million to support its Airborne Sensors (ABS) program. The primary objective of the ABS Mission Operations program is to provide airborne electro-optic and infrared sensor capabilities to support MDA and other test activities. Work will take place in Oklahoma. The ordering period will September 2021 through September 2026.

According to Defense News, Israel received its fourth and final Sa’ar 6 warship as the country implements a new naval doctrine aimed at bolstering defensive capabilities in its exclusive economic zone. Israel has been receiving the ships since November 2020.

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is likely to sign contracts with Serbia and Poland for Spike LR2 fifth generation missiles. “We are acting in Serbia together with state-owned defense products manufacturer Jugoimport-SDPR and we are working on the promotion of Spike LR2 rockets,” Al Zaher, regional director for Rafael, told Serbian public broadcaster RTS last week.

Troops from Russia’s Central Military Region’s air defense brigade carried out live firing of missiles from the Buk-M3 air defense missile system at the Kapustin Yar proving ground. The tactical exercise involving live fire practice will end late September.

The Australian Department of Defense signed the acceptance certificate of NUSHIP Stalwart, the second of the two Supply class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ships built by Navantia Ría de Ferrol for the Royal Australian Navy, today. The acceptance of NUSHIP Stalwart on August 30 follows two months’ of fit-out activities carried out at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Before its formal acceptance, NUSHIP Stalwart completed its final sea trials. Verifications and demonstrations of the Combat, Communications and Navigation Systems conducted on August 22 reached a high degree of customer satisfaction in all areas.

Watch: IAI Integrates Naval Combat Suite on Sa’ar 6 Corvettes

Sikorsky Aircraft won an $11.9 million contract modification, which provides non-recurring engineering to include investigations, systems engineering support, risk analysis and integration development in support of the CH-53K Data Transfer Unit and Defensive Electronic Countermeasure System Replacement Phase III, to replace existing subsystems within the CH-53K production aircraft. The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. Work will take place in Maryland, Connecticut, Iowa, Texas and Vermont. Expected completion date is in June 2024.

Honeywell International won a $9.4 million order for the procurement of the embedded Global Position System/Inertial Navigation Systems in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. The F/A-18 is a twin-engine multi-role combat aircraft. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion will be by April 2023.

Navantia began sea trials of NB 546 Al-Jubail, first of the five Avante 2200 corvettes for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). The trials are being conducted in the Bay of Cádiz and all the ship systems are being tested. The trial is expected to last a total of two months, divided into two different periods. The current trial period will last about two weeks. Some 140 people participate in them.

Saab has signed a $116.5 million contract for the delivery of several live training systems and services to the Polish Armed Forces. The deal covers the supply of a complete live training solution for a reinforced mechanised battalion and four training centres for company size units. The contract period is 2021 to 2026 including support over a period of three years.

General Atomics Aeronautical won a deal for the Italy Mid-Life Modernization (MLM) Lot 1 MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft and Block 30 Mobile Ground Control Station (MGCS) procurement. The Block 5 system is designed to operate for more than 27 hours, fly at a speed of 240 knots and carry up to 3,850 pounds of payload. Work will take place in California. Expected completion date is January 31, 2023.

An article by Intelligence Online says IAI has beaten Airbus and Thales in a four-year race to supply a military observation satellite to Vietnam. “While the French contenders have been busy infighting, Israel Aerospace now seems poised to win a contract to supply a military observation satellite to Vietnam”, it says.

Watch: Ready for Training: U.S. Marines Learning CH-53K King Stallion

Lockheed Martin won a $25.8 million deal, which provides non-recurring engineering for the development, integration, testing, and deployment of the MH-60 Product Line System Configuration 24 fleet release for all MH-60 air platform variants, to include baseline management integrated management planning, integrated development environment support, support equipment baseline management, software architect, core lab support, problem trouble report legacy support, engineering tools support, and development aircraft support for the Navy and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. The MH-60R Seahawk missions are Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Surveillance, Communications Relay, Combat Search and Rescue, Naval Gunfire Support and logistics support. Work will take place in New York, Australia and Denmark. Expected completion date is in August 2024.

The US Army has carried out flight tests with a new wide field-of-view helmet-mounted display (HMD) that could be fielded on the AH-64E. The new high-definition, binocular see-thru HMD allows the pilot to see around and below the aircraft to create a transparent cockpit. The system was demonstrated on an AH-64E Version 6 over 23 flights. A total of 17 pilots from Redstone Test Center (RTC), 101st Airborne Division, and the Army Capability Management – Recon Attack participated in the testing.

According to Israel Defense, MCTECH unveiled the MC-HORIZON D360BP, a multi-layered manpack system designed to protect against UAVs. The reactive system can identify drones, acquire the targets, and neutralize them automatically from far distances. A number of such systems were delivered last week to the army of an African country, according to the company.

French and German defense ministers signed the second Franco-German intergovernmental cooperation agreement in the field of tactical air transport on August 30, 2021. It aims to create a bi-national squadron and a training center at the Evreux air base,France with a view to operating a fleet of C-130J planes. This signature will allow the formal establishment of the Franco-German squadron on 1 st September 2021.

The Indian Army reportedly placed an order for nearly 100 explosive-laden SkyStriker loitering munitions. The drones will be supplied by a joint venture between Bengaluru-based Alpha Design and Israeli firm Elbit Systems. Alpha owns 51% of the JV. The contract valued INR 100 Crore ($13.7 million) was signed on September 1, the Times of India reported.

The Indian Air Force has inked an agreement with the US Air Force recently to co-develop air-launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The agreement marks the first co-development project under the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative. The US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) will work with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for this project.

Watch: King of the Sky | The Navy’s Largest Helicopter [MH-53]

Harper Construction won a $101.7 million construction contract for design and construction of an F-35C hangar addition at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The project will include the construction of a two-module addition in support of F-35C operational squadrons. It will construct an aircraft parking apron and marshalling area, access apron and shoulders, taxiway connections and associated lighting, and construct an alternate mission equipment storage facility. The hangar addition will be constructed with reinforced concrete masonry unit, structural steel frames, metal deck and pile foundation. The work to be performed includes design and construction of the F-35C hangar addition to Hangar 6. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion will be by March 2024.

Lockheed Martin won a $12.6 million deal to exercise options for Aegis design agent field engineering services. Services include test and evaluation, engineering change development, ordnance/ship alterations, modernization engineering, logistics and technical support, ordnance alterations kit development, integration and test support, AN/SPY-1 series radar antenna refurbishment and Coast Guard deep-water program design agent field engineering support. The services are in support of Aegis-equipped CGs and DDGs, allied Aegis-equipped ships, and Coast Guard Aegis-configured ships. Work will take place in Virginia, California and Florida. Estimated completion will be by September 2022.

According to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), it has resumed the production of F-16 wings for Lockheed Martin, using an assembly line established in the 1980s. IAI recently reopened the production line following increased worldwide demand for the F-16 Block 70/72. IAI will produce F-16 wings that will be shipped to the F-16 final assembly line in Greenville, South Carolina, according to the company.

Northrop Grumman won a $50 million modification for Integrated Battle Command Systems hardware and software. The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System is intended is to integrate the communications between weapon launchers, radars, and the operators, allowing an air defense unit to fire its interceptors using information provided by the radar of another. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales (Poland) funds in the full amount were obligated at the time of the award. Work will take place in Alabama. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2025

Finnish firm Patria won an order to deliver 200 6×6 armoured vehicles to Latvia. The contract also covers provision of support and training systems. Deliveries will take place between 2021 and 2029. The joint programme is open to other countries with the mutual consent of the participating countries. In general, this common vehicle system will improve the mobility, cost-effectiveness, interoperability, and security of supply of armies in the participating countries, the company said in a statement August 30.

Hindustan Aeronautics has completed the spin and night flight testing portion for the HTT-40 basic trainer and the light aircraft will head for certification clearance. Intended to replace the HPT-32 (Hindustan Piston Trainer), the HTT-40 is a basic training aircraft developed for the first stage of the training of rookie pilots in the Indian Air Force.

Watch: Gigantic Fleet of US C-17 Take Off One by One During Elephant Walk

Hamilton Sundstrand won a $60 million requirements contract for the repair of the constant frequency generator used on the V-22 aircraft in support of the weapon replaceable assemblies and shop replaceable assemblies programs. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft. The aircraft operates as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. The nacelles rotate 90° forward once airborne, converting the aircraft into a turboprop aircraft. Work under the contract will take place in Illinois. Estimated completion will be by September 2026.

Midnight Sun-Centennial Kirratchiaq won a $19 million deal for providing Simplified Acquisition of Base Civil Engineer Requirements (SABER) support for Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE), Virginia. The deal provides all labor, tools, equipment, transportation, materials, supervision, and all other necessary supplies and services required to perform a broad range of design, minor and new construction, facility repair, and maintenance on real property for JBLE. The Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements (SABER) contract’s main purpose is to expedite contract award of civil engineer requirements through the issuance of individual delivery orders. Work will take place in Virginia. Estimated completion date is August 31, 2026.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan started the construction of “Crescent Star,” the massive complex for the Turkish army and the Ministry of National Defense, on August 30, in India. The date has a special meaning for the army as it is the 99th anniversary of a battle that cemented the country’s success against invading forces in the aftermath of World War I.

Russian firm Kronstadt today announced contracts with several foreign countries for shipment of drones in 2022. The models of drones or their numbers were not specified in a statement released by the company as reported by local media.

Northrop Grumman won a $40 million contract modification for the Japan and Republic of Korea Global Hawk Program. It is a cofounded joint Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The contract provides for the co-development, test and integration of the Mode 5 software for the Republic of Korea and Japan Global Hawk fleets. he RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft with an integrated sensor suite that provides global all-weather, day or night intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability. Work will take place in California, Japan and Korea. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2023.

Kazakhstan is now the ninth operator of the Airbus A400M transport with anorder placed for two aircraft this month. The delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled in 2024. The deal includes a complete suite of maintenance and training support. Together with the agreement a Memorandum of Understanding has also been signed to collaborate on Maintenance and Overhaul services and with a first step of creating a local C295 maintenance center.

Watch: Military Airbus A400 Atlas Full Documentary

Sikorsky won a $48 million deal, which procures eight spare part and management and delivery of parts in support of the CH-53K low rate initial production configuration aircraft. The CH-53K can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. Work will take place in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, UK, Canada, California and North Carolina. Estimated completion will be in December, 2026.

Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solution won a $17.6 million modification, which procures initial spare parts and aircraft common equipment to support the E-2D Hawkeye Integrated Training Systems flight, tactics, and maintenance devices.The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye features a state-of-the-art radar with a two-generation leap in capability. Work will take place in Virginia, Japan and California. Work is expected to be finished by March 2024.

Nigeria has inducted its A-29 attack aircraft into service at Kainji Air Base on August 31. The induction ceremony was hosted by Nigerian Minister of Defence Bashir Salihi Magashi.Gen. Jeff Harrigian, US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander, represented the US Department of Defense.

Saab announced that it will be demonstrating a new generation of the Combat Boat 90 (CB90) fast assault craft for the first time outside of Sweden. It will be shown from 14-17 September at the DSEI exhibition in London, where visitors will have the opportunity to go aboard to learn more about its new capabilities.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry has submitted its budget request for next year and one of the items on the shopping list is a Counter rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) system. The military is also requesting $9 million for the development of micro-satellites. $392 million out of the $42.4 billion is for the KF-X fighter program.

Japan’s Defense Ministry is seeking a record $50 billion for its budget next year, this represents a 2.6 percent increase from the previous year. Nearly $78 million will be spent on research into high-powered microwave weapons to defeat unmanned aircraft. $35 million will goes into research for hypersonic weapons. Expenses for research and development will add up to nearly $3 billion.

Watch: E2D Advanced Hawkeye

EaglePicher Technologies won a $12 million deal for the BBU-63/B Impulse Cartridge for the B-2 bomber. The B-2 is a low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defense shields. Work will take place in Missouri. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2026.

The US Navy has sent its third and final ship Zumwalt Class destroyer off to sea trials, its maker, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, announced. The USS Lyndon B. Johnson, christened in April 2019, left the Bath Iron Works shipyard on Friday and is expected to be commissioned by the Navy in 2023, after its combat systems are fully installed and activated.

Iraq’s Defense Minister Jumma Inad Sadoon has indicated that his country intends to buy 12 T129 attack helicopters from Turkey. Sadoon also revealed that a consensus has been reached with Turkey with regards to the purchase of the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned air vehicle (UAV). He held discussions with Turkish defense officials during the visit to International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2021) last week.

Italian shipyard Fincantieri is holding early talks with Italy’s Leonardo to acquire its naval gun manufacturing operation, formerly known as Oto Melara. The deal, if concluded, would see Fincantieri take charge of the production of the Leonardo-built 76mm and 127mm naval cannons which it mounts on its warships and which have also been widely exported around the world.

BAE Systems recently unveiled its ultra-small MicroGRAM-M GPS receiver compatible with M-Code signals that are resistant to jamming and spoofing. About the size of a postage stamp, MicroGRAM-M is the world’s smallest, lightest, and most power-efficient M-Code embedded GPS receiver – delivering assured positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) for size-constrained and other micro-applications.

Future joint military exercises led by the US Space Force could include South Korea’s air force in order to help reinforce the latter’s space defense capabilities. Gen. Park In-ho of the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF), and U.S. Space Force Gen. John W. Raymond reached an agreement on Aug. 27 when Park visited Peterson Air Force Base. A joint consultative body on space policy will be set up and both sides will also share information on space surveillance.

Watch: All Types of Warships Explained

Raytheon Missiles and Defense won a $77.1 million contract modification for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Production Lot 35 Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM) and CATM guidance sections. This Captive Air Training Missile is an inert store that is captive carried on the aircraft and simulates the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile for training purposes. Work will take place in Arizona. Estimated completion date is April 30, 2024.

According to Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, the US Navy’s guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) completed builder’s trials. The Arleigh Burke Class destroyer spent three days in the Gulf of Mexico testing the ship’s combat system, which included firing a missile.

Israel Shipyards announced the signing of an agreement for the detailed design phase for the construction of the Reshef Class Vessel for the Israeli Navy. The agreement was signed with the Ministry of Defense as a final step before the ship’s production phase. During this phase, Israel Shipyards will present an engineering plan, adapted to the needs of the Navy.

Bryan 77 Construction JV won a $9.2 million task order for repair of the Scorpion Gate at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The task order also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $9.3 million. The work to be performed provides for the repair and replacement of the Scorpion Gate at Camp Lemonnier to meet current anti-terrorism force protection requirements. The project consists of demolition of six existing structures, construction of a new pedestrian screening building, five prefabricated guardhouses, and re-configuration of the gate access. The contractor is to provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the request for proposal. The option, if exercised, provides for the relocation of an existing guard tower. Work will take place in Djibouti, Africa. Estimated completion will be by February 2023.

Norway plans to deploy the P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft in the Arctic in 2022. According to Defense News, this represents a major advance in the country’s long-term efforts to enhance defense capabilities and readiness in the region. The Department of Defense unveiled the schedule on August 13, after it had already approved Ivins Air Station as the home base for its future Boeing-built fleet. The Royal Norwegian Air Force has ordered five P-8A Poseidons to replace its in-service fleet of six Lockheed Martin P-3C/N Orion maritime patrol aircraft and two Dassault Falcon 20 special mission aircraft. The P-3 Orions service operates from Andoya Air Force Station, which is located 190 miles inside the Arctic Circle.

According to Reuters, Taiwan will allocate $1.4 billion to purchase new warplanes next year to bolster the island’s defense capabilities amid increasing pressure from China. The money is part of the $16.8 billion defense budget for 2022 approved by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s cabinet on Thursday. It is the country’s greatest defense expenditure to date.

Watch: Nothing Can Kill the Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) cut the first steel plate for use on the US Navy’s fourth ship of the Gerald R. Ford Class aircraft carrier Doris Miller (CVN 81) on Wednesday at its Newport News Shipbuilding division, marking the beginning of its construction. Doris Miller is the second ship of the two-carrier contract award HII received in January 2019 for the detail design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers; Enterprise (CVN 80) being the first ship of the contract.

The head of US Space Force says the nascent military branch has grown into a “warfighting force” after meeting key milestones. Army Gen. James Dickinson, US Space Command commander, said in a press release that the command has achieved initial operational capability on Monday, two years after it was founded.

Boeing formally rolled out its new F-15QA fighter for the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF). The first set of F-15QA jets will ferry to Qatar later this year following the completion of pre-delivery pilot training. Boeing has been providing maintenance and logistics support for the QEAF during pre-delivery pilot training, which began earlier this year. In addition, Boeing will establish and operate an aircrew and maintenance training center for the QEAF at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar through 2024 while also providing in-country spares and logistics support once aircraft are delivered.

General Atomics won a $42.6 million contract for MQ-9 Reaper contractor logistics support. The company was also awarded a $8.1 million option. In both cased, the contractor will provide an additional period of support for the United Kingdom Royal Air Force. Work for both deal will take place in Poway, California.

The SkyGuardian drone will soon be conducting trials from RAF Waddington in England and RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. In July the UK government announced the order of a further 13 Protector UAVs to add to the three already contracted, bringing the total number to 16 (the UK had an earlier stated requirement for 20 air vehicles, although a US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification of the proposed Protector sale has put the number at 26). The RAF is scheduled to declare the capability operational in 2023/2024.

The US State Department has OK’d a sale of precision-guided weapons worth about $258 million to South Korea. The sale, announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday, will help South Korea address threats on the Korean Peninsula and progress the transfer of wartime operational control to the country, the agency said.

Watch: F-15QA Ababil Unveiled

The US Navy announced, that it has finished a test of its first littoral combat ship-based unmanned mine detection system. The Unmanned Influence Sweep System designed for the LCS has a mine countermeasures unmanned surface vehicle, or MCM USV, and a towed minesweeping payload to sweep magnetic or acoustic mines, the Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has departed from Norfolk Naval Station to Newport News Shipyard for planned maintenance. According to a statement, the six-month maintenance period, called a Planned Incremental Availability, which includes modernization, maintenance and repairs, was slated to serve as the final maintenance phase prior to the warship’s anticipated inaugural deployment next year.

Russian claims of Turkey being in the ‘final stages’ of a deal to buy a second batch of S-400 air defense system is false, a Turkish official has said. Russian state arms supplier Rosoboronexport General Director Alexander Mikheev reportedly told Russian state media on Monday that the consultations between Turkey and Russia on a new supply of the S-400s were at the “final stage.”

The German Bundeswehr ordered a tethered balloon-based area reconnaissance system worth $24.7 million for protecting a forward operating base in Niger. The Ka-52M is considered a competitor to the US-made Apache. First of these helicopters will be handed over to the Russian military in 2022. Deliveries of the upgraded helicopters will begin after passing state joint tests, which started in August, the company said in a statement.

The Russian Ministry of Defense signed a contract for Kamoc Ka-52M Alligator combat helicopters with Russian Helicopters Holding today during the Army 2021 Forum. The Ka-52M is considered a competitor to the U.S.-made Apache. First of these helicopters will be handed over to the Russian military in 2022. Deliveries of the upgraded helicopters will begin after passing state joint tests, which started in August, the company said in a statement.

A joint fighter exercise between the Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will proceed this year, the Sankei reports. The exercise was supposed to take place at Komatsu base with JASDF F-15s in June last year but postponed due to the pandemic. It was rescheduled to July this year and India’s Su-30MKIs were supposed to train with F-2s Hyakuri. That event was canceled due to the spread of the Delta variant.

Watch: The Russian Ministry of Defense Orders Ka-52M Helicopters at Army 2021

Boeing won a $49.7 million deal for the inspection and overhaul of the CH-47 Chinook mechanical transmission. The CH-47D 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. Work is estimated to be completed by August 23, 2025.

The US Army, together with the Israeli Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) announced the successful first life fire of its Iron Dome air defense system engaging eight cruise missile targets. Soldiers from the Army’s 3-43 Air Defense Artillery (ADA) successfully engaged eight cruise missile surrogate targets as part of a coordinated performance test and live fire event. The 3-43 Battalion (BN) is the first unit to undergo New Equipment Training, and execute live fire tests with the newly acquired interim cruise missile defense system.

Negotiations for the sale of an additional battery of Russian S-400 Air Defense System (ADS) to Turkey are in the final stages. Discussions between Russia’s arms export agency, Rosoboronexport and Turkey on the S-400 were held during the recent IDEF exhibition where the negotiations were brought to fruition, the head of Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheev told reporters during the ARMY-2021 event.

Japan is dispatching one C-2 and two C-130s to Afghanistan for the evacuation of its citizens there. The first aircraft, the C-2, will depart Japan tonight. The C-130s will follow the next day.

AERALIS, a British modular military jet developer, will be showcasing its modular jet design at the DSEI 2021 defence industry show. DSEI is taking place from September 14 to September 17 at the ExCel exhibition centre in London, and AERALIS will be exhibiting at its Stand H7-440 in the Aerospace Zone.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) said it inked a contract with Pakistan’s National Engineering and Science Commission (NESCOM) to produce components for TAI’s medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) combat drone, Anka. TAI opened its first office in Pakistan in December 2019 at the country’s National Science & Technology Park.

Watch: Gray Eagle VS Anka Drone | America’s MQ-1C Gray Eagle VS Turkish TAI Anka Combat Drone

Elbit Systems and L3 Technologies will compete for each order of the $92 million firm-fixed-price contract for the Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System III. The Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System III has Independent eye span adjustment and 25-mm relief eye piece accommodate eyeglasses and unique user requirements. Low-profile battery pack improves head mobility. Objective lens coatings filter glare from cockpit instrument lighting. Work is estimated to be completed by August 22, 2025.

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released a request for information (RFI) on August 18 to industry seeking technologies that would support its development of new ground-effect vehicles (GEVs). Also called wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicle, ground-effect craft, wingship, flarecraft or ekranoplan, it can move over the surface by gaining support from the reactions of the air against the surface of the earth or water.

A US Air Force F-15E fighter shot down an Iranian unmanned air vehicle over Syria on August 21. The drone was deemed a threat to Mission Support Site Green Village, which has hundreds of American troops stationed there.

A US Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 conducted a first-of-its-kind operation which saw F-35B aircraft launched from British HMS Queen Elizabeth land on the amphibious assault ship USS America to load ordnance, refuel, and strike follow-on objectives on August 20th, 2021.

The Indian Navy (IN) and the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) have once again demonstrated their ability to interoperate in the South China Sea with a series of naval drills near the disputed waters. The drills took place on 18 August, and it involved the IN’s Rajput-(Kashin II) class (Project 61ME) guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay , and the Kora (Project 25A)-class corvette, INS Kora.

The Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) has commissioned its first locally built submarine capable of firing submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), Jane’s reports. The 3,000-ton-class submarine, named Dosan An Chang-ho, is the first of three 3,000-ton-class Changbogo-III Batch-I submarines that South Korea plans to build by 2023.

Watch: THIS IS HOW IT’S MADE | THE SECOND DOSAN AHN CHANGHO CLASS SUBMARINE

Raytheon won a $7 million modification in support of the evolved Seasparrow Missile Block II life of type buy of parts for the NATO Seasparrow Consortium. The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) (RIM-162) is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile designed and manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems. It offers naval combatants reliable self-defense and high fire-power. Work will take place in California and Arizona. Estimated completion date is in October 2021.

Boeing won a $487 million deal for Apache AH-64 engineering services and technical support. The AH-64E Apache is designed and equipped with an open systems architecture including the latest communications, navigation, sensor and weapon systems. It has an improved Modernized Target Acquisition Designation System that provides day, night and all-weather target information, as well as night vision navigation capability. Estimated completion date is February 6, 2026.

The Russian-made air defense systems operated by the Syrian military reportedly destroyed 22 missiles fired by Israeli fighters at targets in Damascus and Homs provinces on Friday night. “At about 23:00 on August 19, six Israeli Air Force tactical fighters from Lebanese airspace struck 24 guided missiles on targets in the Syrian Arab Republic in the provinces of Damascus and Homs. Syria’s Buk -M2E and Pantsir-S destroyed 22 missiles,” Deputy Head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit said at a briefing.

Lockheed Martin has painted Germany’s first C-130J in Luftwaffe livery. Germany is getting three C-130Js and three KC-130Js.These aircraft will join the French-German allied squadron based in Evreux, France.

Ukraine’s Ukrspetsexport will soon set up a facility to repair Mi-17 helicopters in Turkey. An agreement pertaining to setting up the unit was inked with Turkey’s THK Teknik A.? during IDEF-2021 exhibition in Istanbul. The contract calls for the creation of a service and repair center for Turkish customers, as well as fulfillment of various orders for third countries, Ukroboronprom said in a statement August 18.

Local media revealed that Japan’s defense ministry is unlikely to seek funding in the fiscal 2022 budget to build the alternative for the abandoned Aegis Ashore missile defense system. A government official was quoted as saying that “such budget requests will likely be impossible over the next few years.” Japan’s goal was to install those land-based systems on warships instead. But questions remain over the cost of designing and operating those ships.

Watch: Watch The Navy Fire Its New Evolved Sea Sparrow Block II Missile For The First Time

Boeing won a $10 million modification for F-15C and F-15E Mission Training Centers (MTC). The contract modification provides for updates to the F-15 MTC training systems in order to achieve training service objectives. Boeing is upgrading USAF F-15C and F-15E MTCs with the Suite 9.1 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System. Work will take place in Idaho, North Carolina, Nevada, Japan and England.

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) tested its three-setting 2,000-pound (nearly 910 kg) Dialable Effects Munition (DEM) recently. The Air Force says that this capability will give it the ability to prosecute targets more effectively in high-end fights, which equates to greater mission flexibility. On July 28, an F-16 from the 96th Test Wing released a single DEM onto the target area as part of the tests. Prior to the weapon’s release, the pilot programmed the DEM to conduct a precise lethal footprint attack from the cockpit. The precise lethal footprint attack focuses the weapons effects to a limited area where collateral damage could be a concern.

Vertex Aerospace won a $10 million modification, which exercises an option to provide organizational and intermediate depot maintenance, logistics and supply support for three KC-130J aircraft for the government of Kuwait. Additionally, this modification provides limited repair of common support equipment. The country ordered three KC-130Js in 2010. The tanker is designed for mid-air refueling of military aircraft to extend their range and loitering time. Work will be performed in Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait, and is expected to be completed in August 2022.

TUSAS Engine Industries Inc. (TEI), a subsidiary of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GE Marine to explore opportunities pertaining to production of engines for warships. The MoU was signed during the ongoing IDEF 2021 exhibition in Istanbul.

The Russian Ministry of Defense will order weapons for $6.8 billion at the Army 2021 military-technical forum to be held next week. “We are planning to sign 45 government contracts worth 500 billion rubles,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in an interview with a local newspaper.

South Korea’s Defense Agency for Technology and Quality has cleared the indigenous Cheongung II air defense missile system for mass production. Recent testing were carried out at the Anheung test site of the National Defense Science Research Institute. The system utilizes the 9M96 interceptor missile used on the Russian S-350E and S-400 systems.

Watch: F-15S/MTD Extreme Eagle vs F-22A Raptor: Dogfight & History | DCS WORLD

The US Marine Corps has used its Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to attack a target ship more than 100 nautical miles away during a test in Hawaii. The actual firing of the Naval Strike Missile was carried out by engineers from Marine Corps Systems Command as the NMESIS is not an operational system yet. Two missiles were launched during the test on August 15.

Raytheon won an $11.5 million order, which provides for the upgrade of 10 AN/APG-79 radars from Configuration A to Configuration B and continuing required efforts to repair Weapons Replaceable Assemblies identified as nonfunctioning following baseline testing. AN/APG-79 provides situational awareness, near-instantaneous track updates, and multi-target tracking capability for Marine Corps combat aircraft. Work will take place in Texas, Mississippi and California. Estimated completion will be in July 2023.

Turkish company Meteksan unveiled its NAZAR System, which provides laser soft-kill capability against Electro-optic (EO) and Infrared (IR) guided missiles. EO/IR guided missiles are increasingly becoming threats to military bases, ammunition depots and civilian strategic facilities due to advancing technologies. The NAZAR system has been developed with the ability to detect EO and IR guided missiles and to apply laser dazzling and soft-kill techniques directed against missiles to neutralize them from long distances.

France has suspended its military co-operation with Ethiopia due to concerns about the conflict in the northern region of Tigray, news agency AFP cited two official sources with knowledge of the issue as saying. They said that a deal agreed by French President Emmanuel Macron and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in March 2019 was suspended at the beginning of July. Under the agreement, France would loan EUR85 million to help Ethiopia set up a navy even though it has been landlocked since Eritrea gained its independence in 1993, AFP reported.

Babcock International won a contract to deliver the installation of a variable speed drive system for the central cooling system on board the Irish Navy’s Samuel Beckett Class ships. The company said in a news release that the variable speed drive system was first installed on the central cooling system of the fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel, LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64), at time of build, enabling the  vessel to use a variety of power outputs depending on the conditions and requirements.

Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) secured a licensing agreement to assemble and test the ASRAAM at its facility in India. The missile manufactures at the Bhanur unit in Telangana will be for both the domestic and foreign markets. The facility might be expanded to include the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of air-to-air missiles in the future.

Watch: Top 10 Most Powerful Fighter Jet Radars (2021)

Sikorsky won a $116.5 million deal for maintenance and overhaul of the Black Hawk main rotor blade. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. The UH-60 Black Hawk, developed by Sikorsky, has been operational in the US Army since 1978. In April 2001, the US Army approved an upgrade programme for more than 1,500 Black Hawks to UH-60M. The UH-60M features new wide chord composite spar main rotor blades, strengthened fuselage and advanced infrared suppression. Estimated completion date for this contract is August 15, 2026.

Integral Aerospace won a $10 million contract for the repair of two parts associated with the 650 gallon fuel tanks in support of the CH-53 aircraft. All work will be performed in Santa Ana, California, and the ordering period is expected to be completed by August 2026. The CH-52 Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter. The marine corps uses the Super Stallion in the amphibious assault role and for transporting heavy equipment. The US Navy also use the Super Stallion for vertical delivery and recovery of damaged aircraft on aircraft carriers.

Turkish UAV manufacturer UAVERA will showcase its new Cagatay VTOL UAV at the 15th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2021 being held in Istanbul TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center between August 17 and August 20. The Cagatay VTOL UAV is a sub-cloud UAV (BIHA) class with 6 hours of flight time and a communication range of up to 150 kilometers. The UAV also is equipped with satellite control, feel-and-avoid, anti-collision, and swarm capabilities.

The Spanish Civil Guard has issued a tender for the supply of a minimum of 3,500 5.56x45mm caliber assault rifles worth about six million euros. Infodefensa reported that the tender also includes the supply of rifle holders, cases with cleaning tools, facemasks, user manuals and 10,500 magazines, with delivery of the rifles and the other items during 2022 and 2023.

Japan’s first KC-46A recently refueled another KC-46A over the state of Washington. “Refueling with the first Japan KC-46A is an important milestone for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force,” Jamie Burgess, KC-46 program manager, said in a statement from Boeing. Japan is the first non-US KC-46A customer, and is scheduled to receive its first tanker later this year.

According to Jane’s, South Korean firm LIG Nex1 announced in late July the completion of sea trials of its Haegum-3 (Sea Sword 3) unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The development work was carried out under the umbrella of a two-year public-private joint venture, called ‘The Coastal Security and the Rapid Response Unmanned Surface Vehicle Civil-Military Technology Commercialization Support Program’, between 2019 and 2021.

Watch: CH-53K King Stallion Takes Flight at MCAS New River

The Defense Department’s Space Development Agency (SDA) plans to launch an experimental payload, developed together with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), to study the infrared background created by the Earth. The experiment is called Prototype Infrared Payload or PIRPL and is foundational for developing DoD capabilities to detect and track dim, fast-flying hypersonic missiles, SDA officials said in a briefing last week.

The US Army says it’s developed a combat-capable prototype of a high-energy laser weapon. According to an army press release, the laser can be mounted on a Stryker military vehicle and used to defend troops against drones as well as rockets, artillery and mortars. Over the summer, the new weapon was successfully tested in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in a “combat shoot-off” against a series of possible combat scenarios.

Two US CH-47 Chinook helicopters arrived in Turkey to aid the country suppress major wildfires. According to a release from the US Ambassador to Turkey, David M. Satterfield, the helicopters along with 18 crew members, arrived Friday at Dalaman Airport in Mugla.

The USS Monterey visited Egypt’s Berenice Naval Base on Thursday, the first time a U.S. warship has pulled into the Red Sea base. The Navy announced the visit to the Berenice Naval Base, which officially opened in January 2020, in a press release.

According to local media, the Cypriot cabinet had recently approved the start of negotiations for the sale of 11 Mi-35P attack helicopters to Serbia. In documents seen by Politis, Cyprus intends to replace the Mi-35P with 12 new attack helicopters. The proposal involves buying six aircraft initially and another six later, over a 10-year period.

Indian state run firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced the completion of Ground Run and Low Speed Taxi Trials (LSTT) of its indigenously developed civilian aircraft Hindustan-228. Hindustan-228 is the first fixed wing aircraft built in India.This is also the company’s first foray into the manufacturing of civilian aircraft with its services being tended to only defence customers till present. The trials were a part of the country’s 75th Independence Day.

Watch: Mil Mi-35P Phoenix in Action

Northrop Grumman won a $8.4 million delivery order for support of the E2-D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft program avionics flight management computers. The E-2D provides broad area coverage resulting in broader range capabilities. With the E-2D’s enhanced ability to work in the littoral and over land, the platform provides a critical capability to protect our nation’s interests. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion date is February 5, 2025.

Great Eastern won a $9.1 modification to exercise and fund the second 12-month option on a firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements for the offshore support vessel Hercules. This vessel will be utilized to support refueling and resupply of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1). The contract includes a 12-month base period, three 12-month option periods, and one 11-month option period. Work will take place in the US Pacific Command’s area of responsibility. Estimated completion date is July 15, 2024.

Ukrainian firm Practika reportedly delivered a batch of Kozak-5 lightweight armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia this year. The Kozak-5 armored vehicle based on 4×4 truck Ford F550, chassis specially enforced (front axle strengthening, suspension and brakes enforcing, bigger wheels installing for armored vehicle building).

QinetiQ supported and hosted ‘At Sea Demonstration/ Formidable Shield’ (ASD/FS), the latest US-led NATO training exercise at MoD Hebrides, Scotland. Responsible for modernizing the base to enable the exercise to take place, QinetiQ say they worked closely with international partners within NATO and made a significant contribution to allies’ abilities to deliver against future threats.

The Tejas Mk1A is to fly by March next year, in a new deadline set by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). HAL’s chairman R Madhavan said the critical design reviews for the mission computer, digital map generator and digital flight control systems are completed.

In its budget proposal for 2022, the Japan’s Ministry of Defense will budget $912 million to acquire 10 F-35 fighters from the US. This is nearly double of what the ministry had budget in 2021 for six aircraft. Japan’s mid-term defense plan is to acquire 27 F-35As and 18 F-35Bs.

Watch: Here Comes the New Upgrade E-2D Hawkeye Cockpit (And Much More)

Textron Systems won an $11.3 million deal for the logistics and repair support of MV-22B, CMV-22 (Navy) and CV-22 (Air Force) Osprey components in support of the Joint Service Electronic Combat Systems Tester system. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopters. Work will take place in Maryland. Estimated completion will be by August 2026.

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a test re-entry vehicle was launched by Airmen from the Global Strike Command on August 11. During this launch, a Hi Fidelity Joint Test Assembly re-entry vehicle that detonated conventional explosives prior to hitting the surface of the water was used. The vehicle landed downrange near Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

According to Defense News, Canadian company Lortie Aviation is entering negotiations to buy five of Lebanon’s Hawker Hunter fighter jets after the Ministry of National Defense held three auctions for the aircraft. The ministry authorized the Lebanese Armed Forces to issue an agreement of consent with the Canadian firm for the sale of the five Hawker Hunters and spare parts.

According to the UK Royal Navy, a new robotic vessel has begun trials with the Royal Navy. The Otter Pro has been put through its paces at the Defense Diving School, on Horsea Island, Portsmouth. The next stage of the trials will see the Otter Pro, from RS Aqua Ltd, tested in a more complex environment and its near-real time data processing will be refined

Unlike global trends where attack drones are equipped primarily with guided weapons, Russia is developing a series of unguided rockets and bombs for use on the aircraft. The project to develop the weapons has received the green light from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Izvestia reported.

Japan reportedly plans to deploy missile units next year on an island that is merely 300 kilometres off the coast of Taiwan. The move is aimed at countering Beijing’s increasing naval presence in an area that carries a history of military disputes, reported Japanese media, adding that the nukes will also help defend against a potential Chinese attack

Watch: US Army Test a ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System Capabilities