Defense Industry Daily

Collins Aerospace won a $22.4 million contract for High Fidelity Visual Display Systems required to support the F-35 Joint Simulation Environment. The contractor will deliver, install, and provide training for the visual display systems. Work will be performed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Edwards AFB, California; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and is expected to be completed July 31, 2023. The F-35 Lightning is a stealthy, supersonic multirole fighter developed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and programme partners from the NATO and US allies. Work will take place at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Edwards AFB, California; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2023.

The Lockheed Martin X-56B was destroyed on July 10 at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards. The aircraft impact the ground at approximately 7:35 am local time after taking off. The unmanned aerial vehicle was designed to test active flutter suppression and gust-load alleviation technologies.

German group Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems handed over S44, the fourth Type 209/1400mod-class submarine, to the Egyptian Navy. The contract for the delivery of the first two 209/1400 mod class submarines to the Arab Republic of Egypt was signed in 2011. In 2015, Egypt decided to take the option for two additional units. The first submarine was handed over in December 2016, the second in August 2017 and the third in April 2020.

Babcock is preparing to showcase its frigate project credentials during ‘Defence Exhibition Athens’ to promote its bid to deliver the Hellenic Navy’s new frigates. Supported by the UK Government, Babcock has been fine-tuning its comprehensive and compelling programme to provide the Hellenic Navy with a Hydra Class upgrade programme, an interim frigate capability and four Babcock Arrowhead 140 frigates.

Japan will deploy six F-35Bs at Nyutabaru Air Base in 2024, two more are to arrive there in 2025, local news reports say. There will be a squadron of 20 aircraft eventually at the base in Miyazaki Prefecture. The facility was chosen due to its proximity to a Field Carrier Landing Practice facility that Japan is building for the US military at Mageshima island.

The Indonesian Navy today inaugurated its newest ship, KRI Teluk Youtefa 522 which is the third ship of the Teluk Bintuni class tank transport ships. Also known as Landing ship tank, the tactical transport amphibious ship can land tanks, amphibious vehicles and troops close to the coast. It is manufactured by PT. Daya Radar Utama and launched in May 2019 in Lampung, an Indonesian Navy information said.

Watch: Japan’s First New Carrier Sight After Modification, F-35B ready to deploy

Shipyards could suffer if the US Navy does not order additional Arleigh Burke Class destroyers, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was told this week. Hicks visited Bath Iron Works in Maine, a General Dynamics subsidiary founded in 1884 whose primary customer is the US Navy, and the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Portsmouth, Naval Shipyard, to discuss a decrease in orders for Navy destroyers, the Pentagon said.

According to the Eglin Air Force Base, the US Air Force successfully detonated a hypersonic missile warhead for the first time this week. The Drive reported that the prototype warhead, designed for the in-development Air Launched Rapid Response Weapon, a hypersonic missile, was detonated for the first time in a ground test last week.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Ground Forces put its new state-of-the-art weapons and aircraft on display during a ceremony held on July 7. The Ground Forces received precision-guided missiles, as well as various long-range drones designed for combat, reconnaissance and “suicide missions”, in which troops carrying out dangerous tasks. Single-seater, attack, reconnaissance helicopters and tactical and multi-purpose vehicles were also added.

The first P-8A Poseidon aircraft for Norway rolled out of the paint shop in Renton, in Royal Norwegian Air Force livery. Norway is one of eight nations to have acquired the P-8A as their new multimission maritime patrol aircraft. The Norwegian air force had recently revealed the names of its five P-8A Poseidon aircraft: Vingtor, Viking, Ulabrand, Hugin and Munin.

Turkey’s state-controlled missile-maker Roketsan has developed a supersonic, anti-radiation missile for the TF-X, the country’s indigenous fighter jet in the making. The missile, dubbed Akbaba or “vulture”, was included in the ammunitions list of the TF-X at a Turkish Air Force briefing on June 30.

The Australian Army received two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, taking the total number of this aircraft in service to 12. Australia acquired four Chinooks via a foreign military sales agreement for approximately $441.6 million. The first two aircraft, drawn from US Army stock, were delivered to the Townsville-based 5th Aviation Regiment on 7 July by a U.S. Air Force C-5M Galaxy transport.

Watch: Nothing Can Kill the Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer

Huntington Ingalls won a $17.5 million deal to support maintenance and modernization on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) with special incentives to include ship alterations and propulsion plant maintenance during fiscal 2021 planned incremental availability at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. According to the Navy, it provides a wide range of flexible mission capabilities, to include maritime security operations, expeditionary power projection, forward naval presence, crisis response, sea control, deterrence, counter-terrorism, information operations, security cooperation and counter-proliferation. Work will take place in Virginia. Estimated completion will be by October 2022.

This summer, the C-17 scheduling tool, called Puckboard, is getting an AI plugin that will help to optimize crew resources and automate the scheduling process. Develop by a team from the air force, the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the software can quickly adapt to schedule changes and plan up to six months ahead.

MDT Armor won a $9.9 million contract for procurement of the David Urban Light Armored Combat Vehicle. The David Urban Light Armored Combat Vehicle is based on a LandRover Defender 4×4 wheeled chassis and is built in MDT Armor’s Alabama facility. The vehicle is designed to offer armor protection against the firing of small arms and IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) explosions. The vehicle is in service with the Israeli armed forces (IDF). Work will take place in Alabama. Estimated completion date is October 31, 2022.

Italian defense company Leonardo has been tasked by Pakistan to convert three Embraer Lineage 1000 business jets into the maritime patrol aircraft dubbed Sea Sultan. Pakistan currently has a Lineage 1000 and will acquire two more jets for the conversion. The program is parallel to the effort by Embraer to create a maritime patrol aircraft for Brazil using the same type of aircraft.

Italy and the United Kingdom signed an agreement to upgrade their Aster surface-to-air missiles. This strategic contract, which follows the Amendment 5 signed by OCCAR-EA in January 2020 on behalf of French armament procurement agency – DGA, will allow the five Services (FR, IT, UK Navy, IT Army and FR Air Force) of the three Programme Participating Nations (IT, UK, FR) to extend the operational availability of their ASTER missiles stockpile.

Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed a contract worth $67 million to provide Akash missiles to the Indian Air Force (IAF). A formal contract was signed by the Indian Ministry of Defense and BDL on July 8. Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by BDL.

Watch: The 10 Best Infantry Fighting Vehicles Today (Top 10 IFVs In The World)

India’s new surface-to-air missile, the Akash, successfully struck an airborne target towed from a remote control aircraft in late November. The weapon is designed to hit aircraft up to 25 km away with a 55 kg warhead. Reuters: India Test-Fires Akash Missile

July 12/21: IAF Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed a contract worth $67 million to provide Akash missiles to the Indian Air Force (IAF). A formal contract was signed by the Indian Ministry of Defense and BDL on July 8. Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by BDL.

February 15/2017: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has claimed to be close to a deal to sell their short range surface-to-air Akash missile to Vietnam. The sale would be the first of its kind between the two countries, following a steadily growing defensive relationship that has seen New Delhi already help the Vietnamese military with training and patrol vessels, as well as the granting of a $500 million credit line in order to buy defense equipment. A further deepening of ties manifested in the missile sale is expected to draw criticism from China, currently locked in a territorial dispute with Hanoi in the South China Sea, as well as their own border dispute with India.

January 11/2017: Discussions are underway between the governments of India and Vietnam over the potential sale of India’s indigenous Akash air defense missile system. Hanoi is keen for negotiations to include a possible technology transfer, while New Delhi is leaning toward promoting an initial off-the-shelf purchase of the system prior to any discussions over technology transfer and joint production. Vietnam represents a growing market for Indian training and gear, with India already set to provide training to Vietnamese Su-30MKI fighter pilots, and they have already trained sailors on operating Kilo-class submarines.

Northrop Grumman won a $3.9 billion deal for Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile ground subsystems support. This contract provides for sustaining engineering, maintenance engineering, test and assessment, modification of systems and equipment, software maintenance, developmental engineering, production engineering, repair and procurement. The LGM-30G Minuteman III is a three-stage, solid-fueled, intercontinental-range ballistic missile. The Minuteman III is the sole land-based component of the US nuclear triad. Estimated completion date is July 6, 2039.

The US Air Force detonated a warhead for its hypersonic weapon, Lockheed Martin AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), for the first time. The Air Force said in a statement that the 780th Test Squadron, based at Eglin Air Force base in Florida, detonated an AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon warhead for the first time recently.

The Israel Ministry of Defense announced that it has signed a $ 30.5 million agreement with Israel Shipyards. Under the agreement, four ‘Sheldag’ type 5 security vessels will be supplied to the country’s Navy. The ‘Sheldag’ Mark 5 is a fast cruise ship, with the ability to maneuver and operate the world’s most advanced weapon systems. The propulsion ships will provide the Navy with a broad response to the threats developing on the naval battlefield in the coming years. The length of the vessel will be 32.5 meters, it weighs 95 tons and its speed is 40 knots.

The UK’s Defense and Security Accelerator launched a Market Exploration called Zero Emissions Air System, on behalf of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF is searching for its next generation of light flying training aircraft that must be more environmentally friendly and produces a zero carbon emission at the point of use. The light aircraft must have an endurance of around 90 minutes with a turnaround time of not more than 20 minutes. This will include replenishment of the powertrain energy source, which can be electric or hydrogen based.

France’s Thales successfully completed the first flight of a half-scale prototype of its UAS 100 long-range unmanned air system on June 22. Developed in partnership with Issoire Aviation and Hionos, and with the support of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces via the Defense Innovation Agency (AID), UAS100 will help meet demand for more cost-effective drone missions with a lower environmental impact.

The Philippine Air Force has grounded its fleet of C-130 medium transport aircraft after a fatal crash on 4 July in the southern Philippine province of Sulu. The decision to ground the fleet was announced the following day by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo, who noted that this is a standard procedure following such incidents.

Watch: Just How Powerful is Type 45 Destroyer | Royal Navy Warship

The US Air Force published a new B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic with an accompanying fact sheet on July 6. The rendering is based on the actual aircraft, and an artist’s interpretation of the B-21 design, with Edwards Air Force Base, California in the background. The aircraft will undergo testing there.

The US Defense Department canceled a $10 billion cloud computing contract that’s been the subject of ongoing legal battles, saying it “no longer meets” requirements. A Pentagon representative told reporters that instead, the department will be soliciting new proposals from cloud service providers.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has called on the government to sell the “Wing of Zion” Boeing 767 VVIP jet just months before it is set to enter operational service. The cost of modifying the jet has grown fifty percent from the original $115 million budget. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will decide on the fate of the aircraft later with input from President-elect Isaac Herzog.

MBDA announced it will for the first time pair a CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile) missile with an upgraded Sea Viper command and control (C2) system on board the Royal Nay’s Type 45 destroyers. CAMM offers both close-in and local-area air defence, and will complement Aster 30, strengthening the anti-air defence capability of the Royal Navy.

Details were published about how the new UK ‘National Flagship’ will operate. According to a ‘Prior Information Notice’ regarding the upcoming tendering process to design and build the vessel, the vessel will be used to host high level trade negotiations and trade shows and will sail all over the world promoting British interests. The British Prime Minister announced a new National Flagship for the UK in May.

Royal Australian Navy Anzac Class frigate HMAS Perth returned to the water on July 1 after being lowered out of the dry dock at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia. The move followed the completion of upgrades to the frigate’s radar capabilities, communications systems, and crew-habitable areas, which are a major part of the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Programme (AMCAP), according to a statement by the Department of Defense.

Watch: UK Navy power !! Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyers To Get £500m Firepower Upgrade

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency chose 3 teams of researchers led by Raytheon, BAE Systems, and Northrop Grumman. They have been selected to develop event-based infrared (IR) camera technologies. The project was awarded under the agency’s Fast Event-based Neuromorphic Camera and Electronics program. Event-based cameras are an emerging class of sensors with demonstrated advantages relative to traditional imagers. These advanced models operate asynchronously and only transmit information about pixels that have changed. This means they produce significantly less data and operate with much lower latency and power.

The US Army’s new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) recently carried out its airdrop certification testing over Fort Bragg. The ISV was delivered by standard low-velocity from US Air Force C-130 and C-17 aircraft. Standard dual row airdrop system from the C-17 was tested as well.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is integrating offensive and defensive systems including MF-STAR (Magen Adir) radar onto the Navy’s Sa’ar 6 corvettes. The company, together with the Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (part of IMoD) and the Israeli Navy, completed the first phase of installing the MF-STAR (Magen Adir) radars on the Israeli Navy’s Sa’ar 6 corvettes and will continue to integrate the BARAK MX Air Defense System (Ra’am Adir) on the vessels. The radars will serve to locate and classify air and surface targets and help to build an advanced and detailed maritime picture of the surveillance area.

Israel-based BIRD Aerosystems said that it delivered a complete ASIO Maritime Task Force Solution to an undisclosed African government. The ASIO Maritime Task Force Solution includes multiple Cessna Citation CJ3 aircraft that the company converted into Maritime Patrol Aircraft, together with BIRD’s advanced mission management system (MSIS) which was also installed on a number of vessels as well as at the naval HQ command.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Aviation Group will also establish a passenger to freighter conversion site to convert the Boeing 737-700/800 in partnership with Atitech company, at Atitech’s leading MRO center in Naples, Italy. The cargo conversion site in Italy will join two existing cargo conversion sites in China.

A JGSDF Type 12 Surface-to-Ship missile launch vehicle from the 5th Surface-to-Ship Missile Regiment caught fire 468 meters inside the Kumamoto airport underground tunnel on July 4. The vehicle was returning to base from the JGSDF Hijyu-dai Proving ground and it was not carrying any live weapons at that time. The incident forced the tunnel to be closed to traffic for three hours. Two people onboard the vehicle were unhurt.

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

Northrop Grumman won a $12.9 million contract modification, which exercises an option to provide continued support for integrated test team operations in executing advanced development experimentation flights and development testing in support of future delta system software builds for the Navy 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 Patuxent River, Maryland. Estimated completion will be in July 2022.

The US Marine Corps announced last week that its 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) declared full operational capability (FOC) for the F-35C Lightning II. FOC is significant in its confirmation that VMFA-314 is fully prepared and equipped successfully deploy aboard United States Navy aircraft carriers, marking the first FOC declaration for Marine Corps. This inaugural event is met after VMFA-314 received their first F-35C on January 21, 2020 when their first jet arrived at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar from Naval Air Station Lemoore.

The US State Department approved a contract to Kuwait for heavy tactical vehicles. The contract, estimated to be worth $445 million, will cover 517 total Heavy Tactical Vehicles consisting of Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT) and Heavy Equipment Transporters (HET). These items include: 31 HEMTT Wrecker Trucks (M984A4 ten-ton with crane and winch); 100 HEMTT Fuel Tanker Trucks (M978A4, ten-ton, 2,500?gallon); 188 Guided Missile Transporter Trucks (M985A4, ten-ton with winch); 50 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) Trucks (M1070A1); 50 635NL Commercial Trailers for use with HET prime movers; 49 Palletized Load System (PLS) Trailers (M1076A0); PLS Flat Rack (M1077 with sides); and related equipment and support, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a release today.

VSE Corp. won a $31.6 million delivery order for an in-country technical assistance team (ICTAT) to the Egyptian Navy for follow-on technical support. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the government of Egypt under FMS Case EG-P-GKB. The contractor shall provide ICTAT to include technical, logistics, training, and facilities and administration support to the Egyptian Navy for work on multiple ship platforms. Work will take place in Egypt and Virginia. Estimated completion will be by June 2023.

BAE Systems said it received the first contract from the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Production Corps to deliver M-Code Military Global Positioning System User Equipment to Germany. Under a Foreign Military Sales contract, BAE Systems will deliver advanced M-Code GPS technology to Germany, enabling precise, resilient, and secure geolocation and positioning capabilities that improve the effectiveness of allied operations.

The US Army has deployed a PAC-3 air defense missile battery from Okinawa to Amami for the first time as part of Orient Shield 21-2. The unit carried out joint training with the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Watch: The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)

The Long Range Stand Off Weapon (LRSO) has entered the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase with the award of $2 billion to Raytheon Missiles and Defense. The LRSO is a new air-launched cruise missile to replace the AGM-86. The missile will have a nuclear-armed capability and Raytheon will have to complete the development work by February 2027.

Lockheed Martin won a $28.2 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure mission computers (MC) and flight management computers (FMC) retrofit kits to upgrade the MH-60R/S aircraft. The quantities are as follows: 205 Generation 3i/5i MCs to upgrade from Generation III/V/VI, to include 187 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, five for the government of Saudi Arabia and four for the government of Denmark; 200 Generation 3i/5i FMCs to upgrade from Generation III/V FMCs, to include 182 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, five for the government of Saudi Arabia and four for the government of Denmark. Additionally, this modification procures 153 wiring kits to include 136 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, four for the government of Denmark, and four for the government of Saudi Arabia. Work will take place in New York and Florida. Estimated completion will be in March 2024.

Jane’s reports that Israel Aerospace Industries through its ELTA Systems group is delivering dozens of its ‘Drone Guard’ Counter-UAS (CUAS) systems to a country in South Asia in a deal, worth tens of millions of dollars. IAI develops and manufactures the Drone-Gard System from start to finish including the advanced Radar capabilities. The Drone Guard system handles hundreds of targets simultaneously and provides a solution to multiple evolving threats Worldwide. The system’s advantage derives from the multi-layer implementation concept using a high-resolution 3D X-Band radar a key for drone-detection, an integrated COMIN ESM, multi-channel jamming and high resolution EO/IR with integrated AI capabilities.

The British government has given $4.8 million to the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) for the Co-operative Strike Weapons Technology Demonstrator (CSWTD) program. The aim of the program is similar to the U.S. Air Force’s Golden Horde Vanguard, which will allow weapons to collaborate amongst themselves. Scientists will investigate how inter-missile communication and cooperative behaviors can be technically achieved over the next two years.

A court in Paris has ordered a probe by the National Financial Prosecutors’ Office into a 2016 deal to sell 36 Rafale figher jets to India by Dassualt Aviation. French investigative news website Mediapart reported: “as confirmed to us by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (French acronym-PNF), the Paris court on June 14 opened a judicial investigation, entrusted to an examining magistrate, on the sale by France to India of 36 Rafale fighters.”

Asahi reports that Japan has decided that it will develop the engine for the F-X fighter with help from Britain. Britain’s Rolls-Royce will partner with Japan’s IHI Corporation. Both will also offer the engine for the export market. Anonymous Japanese officials told the news outlet that Japanese Prime Minister Suga spoke on the issue with British Prime Minister Johnson during the G7 summit last month. At the end of June, officials from Japan’s Defense Ministry traveled to Britain for talks on the issue.

Watch: French Judge Tasked With Probing Rafale Jet Sale To India

Lockheed Martin won a $1.8 billion undefinitized contract action, which provides for the procurement of recurring logistics services for delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter air systems in support of the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-US Department of Defense (DOD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Services to be provided include ground maintenance activities, action request resolution, depot activation activities, automatic logistics information system operations and maintenance, reliability, maintainability and health management implementation and support, supply chain management and activities to provide and support pilot and maintainer initial training. Work will take place in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, the UK and California. Estimated completion will be in December 2021.

The Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) will enter Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) after obtaining Milestone C approval on June 28. The NGJ-MB will replace the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System on the EA-18G, it has flown for more than 145 hours. The US Navy is working with the Royal Australian Air Force to develop the NGJ-MB.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Sri Lankan Air Force was in talks with Israel to overhaul five Kfir fighters. Now Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has confirmed that a deal worth $50 million was signed recently with Sri Lanka. The Israeli defense company says the Kfirs will be getting new advanced radars, sensors, communication systems, and new helmets to bring them to advanced 4+ generation. The upgrade process will also include transfer of knowledge and skills for refurbishment to Sri Lankan Air Force personnel.

The Swiss Federal Council announced that it is set to propose that Parliament approve the procurement of 36 F-35A fighter aircraft from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin and five Patriot fire units from US manufacturer Raytheon together worth 8 billion CHF ($ 8.64 billon). The Federal Council based its decision on a comprehensive technical evaluation of four new fighter aircraft candidates (Eurofighter by Airbus, Germany; F/A-18 Super Hornet by Boeing, USA; F-35A by Lockheed Martin, USA; Rafale by Dassault, France) and two candidates for a longer-range GBAD system (SAMP/T by Eurosam, France; Patriot by Raytheon, USA), a council statement said.

The Dutch government has entered into a contract to sell 12 F-16 jets belonging to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNAF) to a private US company, Draken International as it makes way for F-35 aircraft which it is gradually inducting. Draken International offers contracted air support to air forces around the world during exercises. The company earlier bought F-16 Fighting Falcons which were retired from the Israeli Air Force.

The Republic of China (RoC) Coast Guard received the second of a planned fleet of 12 Anping Class missile-capable patrol boats on June 25. Named Cheng Kung, the vessel was handed over in a ceremony held at the facilities of the Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Group in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, according to a statement by Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration.

Watch: F-35 & Patriot SAM Power to Victory in Swiss Contest (Defence News)

Lockheed Martin won a $129 million contract modification, which increases the scope for the production and delivery of three MH-60R aircraft as replacement-in-kind for the Navy. MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. The rotorcraft replaces the SH-60B and SH-60F helicopters in the US Navy’s fleet and combines the capabilities of these aircraft. Work will take place in New York, Connecticut and Alabama. Estimated completion date is in May 2025.

Honeywell International won a $10 million delivery order for V-22 spare parts. The deal was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 US. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. 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 Arizona. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2021.

Textron Aviation Defense won a $7.6 million deal for support and sustainment of the Iraq Peace Dragon Program. Operation Peace Dragon is a US Air Force program in support of the IqAF for Iraqi border patrol utilizing King Air 350 ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. The contract provides support of the field service representatives, program management, core/field engineering and repair-and-return. Work will take place in Kansas and Iraq. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2021.

German Bundeswehr signed an agreement with Rheinmetall to upgrade the first lot of their Puma infantry fighting vehicles, bringing them up to a uniform enhanced design status. The deal worth over half a billion euros was issued through the joint venture company PSM GmbH. PSM GmbH is co-owned by Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, each of which holds a 50 percent share in the company.

Trials of the British Army’s new Ajax armoured vehicles have been halted for a second time after concerns were again raised over noise. New light tanks that have so far cost the army £3.2 billion have been withdrawn for a second time after more troops reported suffering hearing loss during trials. Earlier in the month we reported that trials of Ajax armoured vehicles were halted at the end of last year to March this year due to excessive vibration and noise, leaving crews suffering from nausea, swollen joints and tinnitus.

British military bridge manufacturer WFEL will supply a number of its Dry Support Bridges to the Philippine Army under the Horizon 2 phase of the revised AFP Modernization Programme. The DSB systems can be deployed in around 90 minutes to provide temporary infrastructure and will be supplied with pedestrian walkways, for use in disaster relief operational situations, as well as other military scenarios.

Watch: The Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle – Overview and Opinion

Boeing won a $128.8 million contract for the F-15 Mission Training Center (MTC) simulation services to support the Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces and Air Force in Europe locations. The contractor will provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, transportation, tools, materials, supervision and other items to perform all MTC services. These services will provide simulation capability to train F-15 pilots and system operators in high-fidelity training devices.  Work will take place in Missouri, Japan, Idaho, Nevada, the UK and North Carolina. Estimated completion will be in December 31, 2021.

The US Air Force’s multi-intelligence reconfigurable pod – AgilePod – recently demonstrated Precision, Navigation and Timing (PNT) concept of operations during six Phase I flights in Colorado. Three PNT technologies, the Vision Navigation (VisNav), Signals of Opportunity (SoOP) and magnetic anomaly navigation (MAGNAV), were demonstrated. The Vision Navigation (VisNav) and Signals of Opportunity (SoOP) technology were fused into a single system and the experiments proved that the idea can work in a wide range of aircraft and environmental conditions.

Three Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft supported the British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade on exercise in the Middle East. The sortie included dispatching between 70 and 80 paratroopers from two separate Hercules aircraft. A third C-130J dispatched a Container Delivery System.

General Atomics won a $79.4 million deal for the France MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft procurement program. The MQ-9 Reaper is the primary offensive strike unmanned aerial vehicle for the US Air Force. The Reaper is part of a remotely piloted aircraft system. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion date is March 29, 2024.

A detachment of German Air Force Eurofighter fighters were in Romania to undertake combined Quick Reaction Alert training alongside the British Typhoon fast jets already deployed there, according to the RAF. This was the third time since 2020 that both air forces have joined forces on active deployments as part of the bi-lateral Eurofighter Interoperability Enhancement programme.

South Korea’s defense project promotion committee headed by defense minister Suh Wook approved a $2.6 billion project to develop its own interceptor system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome. Work on the project is expected to begin next year. Last year, the defense ministry pledged to build such an air defense system as a longer-term plan. The Iron Dome is designed to detect, identify and destroy incoming threats, such as short-range missiles, artillery shells and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Watch: The Might Of USAF F-15 Eagle Fighter Aircraft | Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag | Spark

Members of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade got a look at development of the SB-1 Defiant vertical lift helicopter, the Army said. The active duty and National Guard soldiers of the brigade, headquartered at Fort Campbell, visited the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida., to learn about the design of the medium-lift helicopter destined to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk, which first saw service in 1974.

Northrop Grumman will install an upgraded Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) system that includes the new Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) on aircraft and helicopters under a $146 million order from the US Air Force. The award is part of an existing contract to Northrop Grumman for LAIRCM upgrades, modifications and installations on a wide range of aircraft, including the C-17, C-5, C-130J, P-8, CH-53K, KC-46 and platforms operated by international customers.

Turkish automotive manufacturer, BMC has received a contract to export 41 Kirpi (Hedgehog) mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles and five Kirpi 4×4 ambulances to Tunisia. Shipments of the vehicles will be made in batches in the coming months. With this deal, the number of vehicles that BMC has recently put into use in Tunisia will reach 92. Tunisia will become the country with the largest Kirpi fleet after Turkey, Anadolu agency reported.

ARTEC GmbH, on behalf of its parent companies Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall, officially handed over the last of the Boxer armoured transport vehicles (GTK) ordered to date by the Bundeswehr to representatives of the Federal procurement agency (BAAINBw) and the Ministry of Defense. The contract CCG 2nd batch, which was concluded in December 20015, comprised 131 GTK Boxers and was worth EUR 478 million. All the experience gained with modifications from the successful Afghanistan mission have been incorporated into this A2 version.

A long-range standoff missilebeing developed by Japan could be an option to replace the AGM-158C LRASM that Tokyo had wanted to mount on the F-15. Spiraling costs of the F-15JSI program has forced Japan to consider other options to have an anti-ship missile with standoff range.

Northrop Grumman announced the first flight of Japan’s second RQ-4B Global Hawk high-altitude, remotely-piloted, surveillance aircraft. Global Hawk is the only high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to deliver near real-time on demand data around the clock. Once fielded, Global Hawk will integrate with other Japanese intelligence assets, including ground-based command and control units. The capability will provide solutions to monitor and deter regional threats.

Watch: BOXER – Multirole Armoured Fighting Vehicle

Sikorsky won a $735.9 million modification, which increases the scope for nine Lot Five low rate initial production CH-53K heavy-lift aircraft and associated aircraft, programmatic and logistical support. The Lot 5 contract contains an option for Lot 6 award for another nine helicopters. While each helicopter cost $97.6 million under the Lot 5 contract, the price will decrease to $94.7 under Lot 6. Work will take place in Connecticut, Kansas, Utah, Missouri, West Virginia, Washington, Canada, the UK, Wisconsin and Florida. Estimated completion date will be in December 2024.

A Canadian board of inquiry has released its report into the crash of a CH-148 off Greece in April 2020. Six onboard the helicopter died. The pilot was performing a turning maneuver called “return to target” when the helicopter’s autopilot took control of the aircraft at the end of the turn. The pilot realized too late that the autopilot was flying the aircraft into the sea and pulled back the cyclic. He had overridden the autopilot for an extended period of time while executing the maneuver. The board of inquiry found that the autopilot software accumulates commands when it is not turn off. This could reduce pilot’s control of the helicopter in special cases. During the certification of the CH-148, this scenario whereby the autopilot was overridden for extended time was not tested.

A Kenya Air Force Mi-171E helicopter has crashed twenty minutes after it took off from Moi airbase at 8.10 am local time on June 24. A number of people onboard did not survive.

Two MiG-31Ks, which can carry the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missile, have been deployed to Syria. The deployment was made possible due to the availability of a second runway at Khmeimim airbase.

The State Department has approved the potential sale of F-16 jets, AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, along with other equipment, to the Philippines, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced June 24. All told, the sales would total up to nearly $2.9 billion, with the majority of those funds going to the sale of a dozen F-16 aircraft and accompanying weaponry and equipment. Two of the jets will be two-seat F-16Ds, and 10 will be F-16Cs. However, one day after the DoS. cleared the sale of 12 F-16s to Philippines, the country’s Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says the price of the foreign military sales package is too high. Lorenzana told media that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) “is evaluating others.” He had previously said the two options are under consideration, the F-16 and the Saab JAS29.

India’s  Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired extended range version of indigenously developed Pinaka rocket from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL). The tests were conducted on 24-25 June 2021 at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha in Eastern India, a Ministry of Defence release said. Twenty-five Enhanced Pinaka Rockets were launched in quick succession against targets at different ranges. All the mission objectives were met during the launches. The enhanced range version of Pinaka Rocket System can destroy targets up to a distances of 45 kms.

Watch: India’s DRDO Tests Extended Pinaka MRBL Rocket

Raytheon won a $136.4 million deal for MK 15 close-in weapon system upgrades and conversions, system overhauls and associated hardware. MK 15 Phalanx CIWS provides ships of the US Navy with an inner layer point defense capability against anti-ship missiles, aircraft and littoral warfare threats that have penetrated other fleet defenses. Phalanx automatically detects, evaluates, tracks, engages and performs kill assessment against ASM and high-speed aircraft threats. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (85%); and the government of South Korea (15%), under the foreign military sales program. If all options are exercised, work will continue through September 2026.

The 325th Fighter Wing’s Formal Training Unit, which trains pilots to fly the F-22, will be permanently located at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The unit is currently located at Eglin Air Force Base. It was forced to settle in Florida after Hurricane Michael damaged its original home at Tyndall in 2018. The move will bring 28 F-22s and 16 T-38s to Virginia.

According to reports, the Biden administration is sharply reducing the number of US antimissile systems in the Middle East in a major realignment of its military footprint there as it focuses the armed services on challenges from China and Russia, administration officials said. The Pentagon is pulling about eight Patriot antimissile batteries from countries including Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, according to officials. Another antimissile system known as a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad system, is being withdrawn from Saudi Arabia, and jet fighter squadrons assigned to the region are being reduced, those officials said.

An experiment by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) Boundary Layer Transition (BOLT) flight experiment team will soon determine whether the boundary layer transition of a hypersonic vehicle is laminar or turbulent. The team is targeting a late-June launch of the vehicle from the Esrange Space Center (SSC) in Kiruna, Sweden. Understanding the transition provides valuable information in the design of hypersonic aircraft and missiles.

Duqm Naval Dockyard, the Joint Venture between Babcock International and the Oman Drydock Company, has completed a first of its kind double engine replacement for the Royal Navy in the Middle East. Undertaken at Asyad dry dock facility at Duqm, in Oman, the operation to replace the Forward Auxiliary Machinery Room generators was a package of more than 500 items, and enabled the Royal Navy to sustain operations within the region as the latest example of Babcock’s global reach.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s first Type 075 Yushen Class amphibious assault ship Hainan recently conducted helicopter takeoff and landing training. The ship has a two-digit number 31 on its hull, indicating its likely role as a small aircraft carrier. Several 13 ton-class Z-8 transport helicopters could be seen landing on the large, straight flight deck of the newly commissioned warship, local news reported.

Watch: The Powerful US Phalanx CIWS in Action

The Pentagon launched Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Acceleration (ADA) initiative, goal of which is to rapidly advance data and AI dependent concepts, like joint all-domain command and control. Speaking virtually to the opening of the Defense Department’s Artificial Intelligence Symposium and Tech Exchange, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks said DOD’s operators must come to trust the outputs of AI systems; its commanders must come to trust the legal, ethical and moral foundations of explainable AI; and the American people must come to trust the values DOD has integrated into each of its applications.

Northrop Grumman has successfully flight demonstrated its new Terracotta sensor. The sensor is a digital open mission systems (OMS)-compliant wideband active electronically scanned array (AESA). Terracotta’s nearly 200 wideband digital channels can be molded cooperatively or segmented for unique purposes, including electronic warfare, airborne early warning radar, active and passive sensing, and communications. This most recent flight verified Terracotta’s ability to simultaneously perform active and passive radio frequency capabilities. The flight test was a follow-on to successful ground and flight demonstrations of Terracotta conducted last fall.

Nordic Monitor has obtained and published a technical agreement document between Qatar and Turkey. While the agreement is to permit Qatar to send up to 36 military aircraft and not more than 250 personnel to Turkey for training. The agreement also allows Qatar to transport Turkish military equipment, material, dangerous goods, ammunition, personnel or humanitarian aid materials inside and outside of Turkey. Under point 10, “in case of a support requirement of (Turkey), (Qatar) is to avail of its other type of aircraft in (Qatar’s) inventory for transportation of (Turkey’s) military equipment, material, dangerous goods, ammunition, personnel or humanitarian aid materials, if it is deemed suitable by competent authority of Qatar.”

Boeing won a $580.6 million delivery order for 14 Chinook H-47 extended range rotary wing aircraft that satisfy the United Kingdom’s requirement for heavy assault, rotary wing aircraft. This modification exercises an option that was awarded on an existing delivery order. Foreign Military Sales funding from the United Kingdom in the amount of $580.6 is being obligated at the time of award. The United Kingdom will be the first international operator of a Block II Chinook. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2026. The Block II variant was officially launched in 2017. Block II Chinook improvements are applicable to “regular” CH-47Fs, and Boeing began flying a Block II CH-47F trials aircraft on March 28, 2019, albeit initially lacking the new rotors. Work will take place in Pennsylvania. Expected completion will be by July 2026.

Damen Naval and German ship classification society DNV, signed a contract for the comprehensive classification and verification of the new F126 frigates that a Damen-led team is building  for the German Navy. Following the signing of the contract on June 7 at the DNV Maritime headquarters at its German office, DNV will carry out extensive work and conduct in-depth ship verifications and surveys in Hamburg, Wolgast and Kiel throughout the duration of the project.

Malaysia published the tender for the supply of eighteen Fighter Lead In Trainer-Light Combat Aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force on June 22. Closing date for the tender is September 22. Currently, the tender website is offline.

Watch: Here Comes the New MH-47G Chinook Helicopter

Sikorsky won a $73.2 million modification, which adds scope to procure 362 spare parts and support required for the repair and maintenance of the CH-53K low rate initial production configuration aircraft. The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. The Super Stallion can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. It will also be used to carry external cargo loads. Work will take place in Connecticut, Canada, Washington, Pennsylvania, the UK, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas and Massachusetts. Estimated completion date will be in December 2026.

Raytheon won a $17 million contract modification, which exercises an option to provide software engineering and testing, avionics integration and testing and avionics acquisition support to include classified and unclassified laboratories, configuration and data management and release of avionics software products and related systems in support of V-22 Software Support Activity systems. Work will take place in Indiana. Estimated completion will be in December 2023.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD)’s research organization, Mafat, Elbit Systems and the Air Force have completed a series of experiments during which UAVs were intercepted at different ranges and flight altitudes using an aerial laser system installed on an aircraft. The ability to destroy air threats from the air is an innovative capability with the potential for a strategic change in the air defense capability of the State of Israel, the Israeli MoD announced.

Saab has signed a contract for the delivery of live training systems and services to the Dutch armed forces. The order comprises the supply of new equipment and functionality at $85.1 million, with a 10-year support contract with an annual value of $7.8 million. The total order over the ten year period is valued approximately $163.9 million. The contract also has an option for five years additional support following the initial 10-year period.

The third and final Royal Navy autonomous minehunting boat has been delivered to Clyde Naval Base. “RNMB Hebe, named after the ancient Greek goddess of youth, has now joined sister vessels Harrier and Hazard as part of the Royal Navy’s crewless minehunting programme Project Wilton. Hebe, four metres longer than her sisters and with more technology on board, is able to work in isolation on operations but also integrated with existing equipment, the Royal Navy said in a press release.

Jane’s reports that the Indonesian Ministry of Finance has given the green light to seek foreign loans up to $700 million for the acquisition of two aerial tankers for the Indonesian Air Force. It added that the tanker must be able to employ both the probe-and-drogue and flying boom aerial refueling methods.

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

Lockheed Martin won a $9.4 million contract modification for HELLFIRE and Joint-Air-to-Ground Missile engineering services. The AGM-114 Hellfire II is an air-to-ground missile developed primarily for the anti-armor role.  It is a combat-proven tactical missile system using multiple launch platforms based on air, sea and ground. Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) is an Army led program managed by PEO Missiles and Space, Joint Attack Munitions Systems (JAMS) Project Office. JAGM is a multi-sensor air-to-ground missile that is the successor to the combat proven HELLFIRE Romeo and HELLFIRE Longbow missiles. Work will take place in Florida. Estimated completion date is June 16, 2023.

Insitu won a $12.5 million modification, which increases the ceiling to provide additional air vehicles, support equipment and spares in support of the RQ-21A Blackjack Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) and ScanEagle UAS for the Navy and Foreign Military Sales customers. The Blackjack can be deployed in persistent maritime and land-based tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, data collection, target acquisition and dissemination missions. ScanEagle has a range of 1,500km and an endurance of more than 28 hours. The air vehicle can operate at speeds between 80km/h and 126km/h and the cruise speed is 90km/h in level flight.

Turkey’s tactical fixed-wing loitering munition, ‘Alpagu’ hit a target with pinpoint accuracy in a test fire by the military. Weighing less than two kilograms, Alpagu can be operated by a single soldier. Its small size makes it nearly immune to radar and the target’s defensive systems are unaware of the killer drone’s presence until the last moment.

The UK Royal Navy’s newest Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Spey has been commissioned into the Royal Navy during a ceremony alongside the Ross-shire town of Invergordon. HMS Spey has been undergoing a programme of operational sea training to ready her for action.

Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, said the MiG-21 will be phased out of service within three years. Bhadauria was speaking at the combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal. He said once the Rafale is fully operational, the service can turn its attention to inducting the LCA. The indigenous jet will replace the MiG-21. Separately, Times of India also reported that the Indian Air Force has stand up 101 Squadron as the second Rafale Squadron. The unit is now at Ambala and will officially induct at Hasimara air base within a month.

Sea trials of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has been delayed due to travel and quarantine issues caused by COVID-19. As per news report, Indian navy personnel and equipment suppliers are unable to travel or are being quarantined. New Indian Express says the trials are rescheduled for September after the monsoon period is over.

Watch: America’s AGM-114 Hellfire Missile Destroyed Armored Vehicle in ONE Seconds

Lockheed Martin won a $191.2 million contract modification for the US and United Kingdom to provide strategic weapon system Trident SSI Increment 8 production of inertial navigation systems and associated inertial spares for the Ohio and Columbia ballistic missile submarine shallow water submersible platforms for the fleet ballistic missile program. The Trident II D5 is the latest generation of the USN’s submarine-launched fleet ballistic missiles. First deployed in 1990, the Trident II D5 missile is currently onboard the US Ohio Class and UK RN Vanguard Class submarines. Work will take place in Ohio, California, New York and Virginia. Estimated completion date is February 28, 2028.

The US Air Force has revised upwards the money required to re-engine the B-52H bomber. The program will now cost $11 billion. Acting Air Force Secretary John P. Roth told lawmakers that this represents a 9 percent jump, he also refuted recent press reports of a 50 percent increase as incorrect. Gen. Timothy M. Ray of Air Force Global Strike Command revealed that depending on the scenario, the new engines would reduce the requirement for aerial refueling by up to 50 percent.

Turkey conducted the last test firing of its homegrown Atmaca long-range anti-ship missile on June 18. “The anti-ship missile Atmaca, our homeland’s steel sword, has hit a target ship during the last test today before it will enter service,” Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan posted on Twitter, attaching a 58-second video showing the test firing of the Atmaca missile. The Atmaca project seeks to replace the U.S.-built Harpoon missile from the military’s arsenal as part of a campaign to wean Turkey’s defense infrastructure from overt dependence on US and NATO equipment.

Rheinmetall announced the release of the Mission Master XT, the latest member of its successful Mission Master family of Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles (A-UGVs). Unlike the Mission Master SP platform, which is already introduced to the market, the Mission Master XT has a diesel-powered engine. It was developed by Rheinmetall Canada.

Kyodo News says Japan will drop the AGM-158C LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) from the list of items it wants to integrate on the F-15JSI. Anonymous officials say this is to reduce costs but no official decision has yet been made. The same article suggests that the AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) will be retained.

Australia has grounded its MRH-90 transport helicopter fleet as a safety precaution, ABC news reports. A defense spokesperson told ABC that the issue was releated “to the application of the helicopter’s maintenance policy in the helicopter’s IT support system.”

Watch: MRH-90 Taipan – Australia’s High Performance Multi Role Helicopter

The US Army declared that it has tested an autonomous variant of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on June 16. The Autonomous Multidomain Launcher was tested at Yuma Proving Ground and two other islands during a 1.25-hour mission.

The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system (ICBM) is expected to make its first flight in 2023, GBSD program manager Col. Jason Bartolomei disclosed on June 14. He foresees the system reaching initial operational capability in 2029. Full operational capability will be 2036.

Last month, the US Air Force’s 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron carried out a demonstration to covert commercial-grade aircraft fuel (Jet A-1) into military-grade aircraft fuel (JP-8) at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia.

Ukrainian firm LUCH unveiled a concept of a new mid-range air defense system, called the SD-300, at the Arms and Security exhibition being held in Kyiv from June 15-18. The SD-300 surface-to-air missile system is designed to intercept various threats such as air-to-ground missiles, helicopters, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), guided bombs, and tactical ballistic missiles up to 100km. It can be used to destroy ground (surface) radar-contrasting moving targets, Defence Blog reported.

Pakistan’s state-owned Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) has cut the first steel for what will be the country’s fourth Milgem Class corvette. A ceremony to mark the milestone was carried out at KSEW’s premises in Karachi. While fourth-in-class overall, the vessel that is being worked upon would be the second Pakistani Milgem corvette to be constructed in-country.

Indonesia reportedly signed a ‘Coming into force’ contract with France/Dassault Aviation for 36 Rafale jets on June 7 which will go into effect in December 2021. Airspace Review reported quoting its sources said that the contract was signed in Jakarta but did not mention who were the officials involved in signing the contract on either side. The “Coming into force” contract will then become the basis for an Effective Contract after all agreements between Indonesia and France are reached and Indonesia has paid an advance for the purchase of 36 Rafales, it said.

Watch: Russian Su-35 “flew”: Indonesia chose French Rafale fighters