Defense`s Feeds

Americas General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $108 million contract for Canada MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft systems hardware. This contract provides the necessary Foreign Military Sales (FMS) hardware and components to support Canada’s MQ-9B Direct Commercial Sale program. This contract involves FMS to Canada. This contract was a sole source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $12,890,775 will be obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems has received a $68 million in contracts to manufacture 44 additional Beowulf Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicles (CATVs) for the US Army. The deal is part of a seven-year program assigned to the firm in 2022 to produce a modern ground-based fleet that can maneuver in the Arctic region and other environments with similar conditions. “The CATV provides a dynamic combination of mobility and flexibility to the US Army enabling rapid response in all terrains,” BAE Systems Sustainment & International VP Dean Medland stated. Middle East & Africa The American THAAD system, deployed in Israel last October, participated on Thursday in its first operational interception since entering service 18 years ago. The system intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) […]

Americas The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) demonstrated the first at-sea refueling of the No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program. A pair of unmanned surface vessels (USV) — the Ranger and the Mariner — demonstrated the task originally designed for the program’s Defiant USV. A long-endurance NOMARS USV is intended to be designed from the ground up without the necessity for humans on board. Bollinger Shipyards has started the construction of the US Coast Guard’s initial vessel planned under the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program. The PSC effort will replace the service’s aging ships deployed for national, maritime, commercial, and economic security support across the Arctic and Antarctic regions by the 2030s. The assembly is now taking place at the company’s facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi, marking the first local heavy polar icebreaker development in the US in over 50 years. Middle East & Afria Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) has secured its first export order for the KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter. The deal, valued at approximately $93.4million, involves the sale of the domestically developed helicopter to the Iraqi government. This contract not only represents a major win for KAI but also signals the growing international interest in South Korean […]

Americas Lockheed Martin Corp won a $3 billion modification to provide continued logistics support to include ground maintenance activities, action request solution, depot activities, automatic logistics information system operations and maintenance, reliability and maintainability, supply chain management, pilot training, maintainer training, and training system sustainment in support of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Air Systems for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, and non-Department of Defense (DOD) program partners . The contract being modified was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Honeywell International won a $92 million for a firm-fixed-price, five-year, spares requirements contract with no options for procurement of 15 inboard wheel segments, 15 outboard wheel segments, 905 landing gear wheels, 630 of another type of landing gear wheels, 610 rotor assemblies, 192 multiple disk brakes, 68 of another type of multiple disk brakes, 137 of another type of landing gear wheels, 1,286 disk brake stators, 337 hydraulic piston assemblies, 1,393 of another type of hydraulic piston assemblies, and 508 of another type of landing gear wheels, for a total of 6,096 weapon repairable assemblies, in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. Naval Supply Systems Command […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $198 million deal, which provides maintenance, program management, and logistics services to support through life support (TLS) services for 36 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) MH-60R aircraft. The TLS services enable the RAN to provide the necessary operational capability and all-inclusive sustainment to include organizational, intermediate, depot, operational and deeper level maintenance, training, and support activities on RAN MH-60R aircraft, aircraft systems, support systems, and support and test equipment for the RAN AIR 9000 Phase 8 Future Naval Aviation Combat System MH-60R Foreign Military Sales FMS program. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin won a $60 million modification for in-service AEGIS Sustainment, Baseline 10 system and fielding, product documentation. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed by December 2025. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The US State Department has approved new weapons sales to Morocco worth over $174 million, showing U.S. strong support to a major ally and strategic partner, described as an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa. The announcement was made Friday by US Defense Security […]

Americas General Dynamics Land Systems won an $18.9 million modification for Abrams system technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of February 27, 2025. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Two US Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea early Sunday in “an apparent case of friendly fire,” the American military said. Both pilots were recovered alive but “initial assessments indicate that one of the crew members sustained minor injuries,” the United States Central Command said late Saturday local Florida time – where CENTCOM is headquartered. Middle East & Africa The United States State Department has approved the potential sale of more than $5 billion in arms for Egypt. The State Department informed Congress on Friday that it had approved the sale of $4.69 billion worth of equipment for 555 US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks operated by Egypt, along with $630 million in Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and $30 million in precision-guided munitions. Europe Germany will buy four more submarines from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to increase the number of boats to six, part of a joint purchase with Norway that may also see the Nordic country increase its […]

Americas Raytheon won a $24.5 million modification for the procurement of components for Megatron obsolescence in support of Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) production requirements. Work is expected to be completed by February 2027. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. American defense firm Kratos has reportedly completed the first flight of its “Thanatos” combat drone. Thanatos is expected to integrate advanced artificial intelligence tools designed for high-risk missions traditionally undertaken by crewed aircraft. These capabilities aim to reduce risks for human pilots in combat situations. Middle East & Africa Bahrain has purchased nine H145 Airbus helicopters to support law enforcement missions and emergency medical operations. The aircraft will be operated by the kingdom’s Police Aviation Command, with Airbus Helicopters’ EVP for Global Business Olivier Michalon predicting that the chopper will quickly become a valuable new asset for the service. More than 60 H145s are already in service across the Middle East, with growing demand for their use in various missions. Europe Estonia’s National Center for Defense Investments (RKIK) has laid the cornerstone of a future marine rescue headquarters and training center at the Old City Harbour in Port of Tallinn. The construction supports the government’s objective to combine […]

SM-2 Launch, DDG-77 (click to view larger) Variants of the SM-2 Standard missile are the USA’s primary fleet defense anti-air weapon, and serve with 13 navies worldwide. The most common variant is the RIM-66K-L/ SM-2 Standard Block IIIB, which entered service in 1998. The Standard family extends far beyond the SM-2 missile, however; several nations still use the SM-1, the SM-3 is rising to international prominence as a missile defense weapon, and the SM-6 program is on track to supplement the SM-2. These missiles are designed to be paired with the AEGIS radar and combat system, but can be employed independently by ships with older or newer radar systems. This article covers each variant in the Standard missile family, plus several years worth of American and Foreign Military Sales requests and contracts and key events; and offers the budgetary, technical, and geopolitical background that can help put all that in context. The Standard Missile Naval Defense Family: Missiles and Plans [youtube:v=F2fXChvE6WQ] 60 years of SM-x click for video Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is the technical direction agent for Standard missile. They work with the US navy, other naval customers, and Raytheon to manage ongoing technical improvements. Within […]

Americas Sikorsky Aircraft won three contracts by the US Navy in support of the CH-53K. The first deal is worth $175.7 million for the procurement of 22 main modules in support of the CH-53K aircraft. The second contract is worth $132.9 million for the procurement of 128 main rotor blade assemblies, the third one involved $11.6 million for the procurement of eight helicopter rotor hub assemblies. Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots have begun intensive training with the Royal Air Force (RAF) on the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. This collaboration marks a crucial phase in the RCAF’s transition to the advanced platform, replacing the aging CP-140 Aurora fleet. The training is taking place at RAF Lossiemouth, a key hub for Britain’s Poseidon operations. The decision to acquire the P-8A Poseidon came in November 2023 when the Canadian government finalized a deal with the United States for up to 16 of the multi-mission aircraft. This procurement addresses the growing challenges of supporting the 40-year-old CP-140 Aurora fleet which is becoming increasingly expensive to maintain and less relevant against modern threats. The Canadian government, after thorough analysis, deemed the P-8A as the only currently available aircraft capable of meeting all operational […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $33.8 million contract modification for the procurement of four test controller processors and ten infrared receivers in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. All work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, and work will be completed by November 2025.  Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. The US Air Force’s Tyndall Air Force Base is equipping aircrew with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) gear for enhanced combat readiness. All current and new pilots of the 325th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment Flight (AFE) will be fitted and trained to wear the newly-developed specialized equipment by February 2025. The squadron supports F-35 pilots and is part of the 325th Operations Group, the Florida base’s operating unit and host wing. Middle East & Africa MVL Saudi Builders won a $29.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of shore-to-ship utilities. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work will be performed in Lebanon, with an estimated completion date of December 29, 2029. Fiscal 2025 Foreign Military Sales (Lebanon) funds in the amount of $29,363,739 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, […]

The second phase of a project to develop underwater surveillance technology is now underway, after the European Defence Agency (EDA) launched the ‘Evaluation of State-of-the-Art Thin Line Array Technology II’ (ETLAT II) over two days from 11 December. With Italy as the lead nation and Leonardo as the lead company, nine members from six European Union Member States are part of the three-year, nearly €4 million project, which aims to strengthen the EU's capabilities in maritime defence.

The project, which launched at Leonardo’s premises in Livorno, aims to enhance ‘Thin Line Array’ technologies for underwater surveillance and anti-submarine warfare. Thin Line Array technologies are underwater acoustic measurement devices used in maritime static and low-speed towed surveillance and monitoring.

Building upon the initial ETLAT project (2015–2018), ETLAT II aims to refine and advance prototypes by addressing unresolved technical problems identified in the first phase. The project focuses on improving operational readiness and finding solutions for the Thin Line Array systems. ETLAT II will draw on advanced numerical models, experimental data, and innovative designs.

Technical objectives: from vibration isolation to testing

Vibration Isolation Systems:

Studying vibrations that affect towing systems, as well as designing isolation solutions to mitigate mechanical disturbances and flow-induced noise, to improve the stability and sensitivity of Thin Line Array systems.

Advanced Numerical Modelling:

Enhancing computational models to predict hydrodynamic behaviour, flow noise, and acoustic performance under various operational conditions, including simulations for different towing speeds and angles.

Experimental Evaluation:

Conducting rigorous prototype testing in controlled environments such as towing tanks and the Lake Nemi acoustic test range – a specialised underwater testing facility near Rome – to validate numerical models and optimise system designs using real-world data.

By integrating numerical simulations with experimental evaluations, ETLAT II aims to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of Thin Line Array technologies so that they can be reliably deployed in demanding maritime defence applications.

 Consortium and Collaboration

• Germany: Bundeswehr Technical Centre for Ships and Naval Weapons, Maritime Technology and Research (WTD 71).
• Finland: Finnish Naval Academy (FNA) and Patria Aviation Oy (Patria).
• Italy: Institute of Marine Engineering - National Research Council (INM-CNR) and Leonardo Spa.
• The Netherlands: Dutch Command Materiel and IT Agency (NL-COMMIT) and Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN).
• Norway: Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI).
• Sweden: Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI).

  European Defence Agency’s role

The ETLAT II project is conducted within the framework of EDA. Established in 2004, EDA supports Member States in developing collaborative defence capabilities to enhance interoperability and innovation across Europe. By facilitating cooperative initiatives such as ETLAT II, EDA reinforces Europe’s technological edge and maritime security readiness.

The European Defence Agency (EDA), the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) convened in Brussels for a trilateral meeting aimed at deepening their collaboration in support of European and transatlantic security.

The meeting, hosted by EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý, was a continuation of a first trilateral held in Luxembourg in December 2023. The gathering brought together senior leadership from the three organisations to explore ways to deepen cooperation, enhance efficiency, and capitalise on their complementary strengths.

In light of the challenging security landscape, the three organisations reaffirmed their commitment to a joint effort, engaging in a dynamic exchange on collaboration and synergies, and exploring how their respective roles can better align to meet the rapidly changing demands of member nations. Discussions centered on addressing shared challenges, and identifying strategic opportunities to reinforce their collective impact.

The meeting highlighted the importance of clear messaging when engaging with stakeholders and explore further alignment and opportunities for enhanced cooperation. 

EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý underscored the importance of such trilateral engagements, and the subsequent discussions that will take place at working level with respectively NSPA and OCCAR, stating: “By coming together at this pivotal moment, we worked on identifying synergies that could deliver real results. One example of a successful collaboration is the multinational MRTT fleet, which illustrates how our organisations can work seamlessly across the acquisition, management, and operational phases to support member nations’ capability needs.”

“Although our organisations have distinct mandates and missions, we share a common goal: supporting our member states in navigating a complex and fast-changing security environment,” he added.

“The current security environment demands agility, innovation, and cooperation,” said Stacy Cummings, General Manager of NSPA. “By pooling our resources and leveraging our respective expertise, NSPA, EDA, and OCCAR are paving the way for stronger, more effective collaboration. This meeting reflects our shared vision to build on past successes and tackle emerging challenges together.”

OCCAR-EA Director, Joachim Sucker, echoed these sentiments: “In a world where disconnection often prevails, this meeting exemplifies the power of cooperation. By combining our efforts, we enhance our ability to deliver vital defence capabilities. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to engage trilaterally with Ms Cummings and Mr Šedivý to explore how our unique strengths can complement each other and yield greater outcomes for the nations we all support.”

This trilateral meeting underscored the collective determination of EDA, NSPA, and OCCAR to work more closely together in addressing NATO and Europe’s pressing defence and security challenges. By strengthening their partnership, the three organisations are laying the groundwork for enhanced collaboration and a more robust response to the needs of both NATO and Europe.

 

Americas Systems Planning and Analysis won a $7 million modification to exercise fiscal 2025 options to provide support services for the Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Strategic Weapons System. Tasks to be performed include technical services, program support, assessments, and special studies and systems engineering. Work is expected to be completed September 30, 2025. This contract was awarded as a sole source acquisition with the authority of 10 US. Code 3204(a)(1). SSP, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $48 million modification to exercise an option for continued sustainment of the French Air Force MQ-9 unmanned aerial system program fleet. Work will be performed in Poway, California; and France, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2025. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to France. FMS funds in the amount of $48,482,812 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has contracted three more Avante 2200 corvettes from Spanish firm Navantia to serve with the royal navy, according to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense. The three new […]

Americas The US Department of Defense has contracted BAE Systems Land & Armaments to produce more Bradley armored fighting vehicles for the army. The $656.2-million award stipulates the vehicles in their M7A4 and M2A4 variants, which have been supporting American land forces since the 1980s. Location and funding for the manufacturing will be determined on each order, according to the Pentagon’s notice, with BAE to continue the project until November 2027. The US Department of Defense has announced the creation of a new office dedicated to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into military systems. Named the Artificial Intelligence Rapid Capabilities Cell (AI RCC), the office is expected to play a key role in advancing the nation’s defense capabilities, particularly in preparation for potential conflicts in the Pacific. A primary focus of the AI RCC will be exploring the applications of generative AI in enhancing autonomous weapons and improving command-and-control systems. Middle East & Africa Kurdish-led forces in Syria, allied with the United States, shot down an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone on Monday after mistakenly identifying it as a threat. Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces, a key ally for the United States in its fight against the Islamic State, were conducting operations in […]

Americas Sikorsky won a $375.9 million modification to provide full funding for UH-60M and HH-60M aircraft. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2027. Fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $375,937,755 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin has announced that its new Tactical Satellite, dubbed “TacSat,” will be launched in 2025 aboard a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket. The company plans to test TacSat in several exercises scheduled for next year, evaluating its performance for rapid deployment in tactical space missions. The TacSat spacecraft is designed to serve as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform, providing advanced sensing and communication capabilities in orbit. Middle East & Africs The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait of Maintenance Repair Sustainment Capability and related equipment for an estimated cost of $300 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale. The Government of Kuwait has requested to buy equipment and services required to refurbish existing maintenance facilities in Kuwait, including sustainment maintenance; special […]

Americas In an effort to attract US customers, Anduril Industries recently showcased the capabilities of its Dive Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) off the coast of California. The autonomous submarine reportedly completed a 100-hour single voyage — the “longest for a vehicle of this class.” While the company views it as a significant milestone, it emphasized that this achievement is just a precursor to an upcoming demonstration, where the Dive-XL will attempt to complete a 1,000-nautical-mile (1,852-kilometer) mission in a single trip. Northrop Grumman has secured a contract to integrate advanced tactical data links into the US Marine Corps’ F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft. The data links will be incorporated into the fighter jet’s LITENING electro-optical/infrared targeting pods, significantly enhancing its ability to communicate and share information with other military platforms. Middle East & Africa Tehran received its first two Russian SU-35 SE fighter jets this week, part of an order for 50 aircraft intended to replace its aging fleet of F-14s and Phantoms. According to reports from FLUGREVUE, the initial jets were officially delivered to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The jets were dismantled and transported to Iran aboard a Russian Antonov AN-124 transport plane, where they were reassembled at Mehrabad Airport. Initially, Tehran […]

The Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector (CF SEDSS) has entered its fourth phase (2024-2028), marking a new push in the European Union’s energy and climate objectives to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

On 11 December, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Commission signed the grant agreement in a ceremony at the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy, underscoring the project’s importance in supporting the defence energy transition and the preparedness goals. The CF SEDSS is an EU-funded initiative managed by EDA, comprising Europe’s largest defence energy community. It is now entering its fourth phase, called Phase IV, funded by the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme.

The global defence sector consumes a significant amount of energy and is estimated to be responsible for up to 5.5% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. The Consultation Forum’s efforts spanning almost a decade have been instrumental in supporting EU Ministries of Defence in developing sustainable, efficient, and resilient energy models in line with the EU’s climate ambitions. Phase IV of the project was officially launched on 1 October 2024.

In the next four years, Phase IV will continue supporting European defence ministries to achieve energy sustainability and meet ambitious climate goals. Building on the EU legal framework and previous project phases, Phase IV will focus on knowledge sharing, collaborative project ideas, studies and policy roadmaps to tackle emerging challenges in energy efficiency, renewables, and energy security within the defence and security sector.

Phase IV will also coordinate the organisation of high-level conferences, thematic workshops and a table-top exercise, with a view to exploring new trends such as digitalisation, electrification, high-density/high power storage, low carbon energy and propulsion systems, smart buildings, artificial intelligence, integrated energy management systems and threats to the critical energy infrastructure.

Nathalie Guichard, EDA’s Director of Research, Technology, and Innovation (RTI), Hans Rhein, Head of Unit LIFE Energy and LIFE Climate, CINEA, and Alejandro Ulzurrun, Acting Director, DG ENER, were present at the signing of the project’s grant agreement.

“The continuation of the forum shows that energy remains a priority for the EU and defence ministries,” Nathalie Guichard said. She highlighted the collaboration between the EDA and the European Commission over nearly a decade. “This is the largest defence energy community, and a unique platform for dialogue which continues addressing the common energy considerations of the defence ministries.” Concluding her address, Guichard said: “Together, we are forging a path towards more energy efficient, sustainable and resilient armed forces.”

Alejandro Ulzurrun, European Commission, DG Energy acting Director for Just Transition, Consumers, Energy Efficiency and Innovation said: “The Consultation Forum is well placed to contribute to the new Commission’s agenda on energy and defence. We count on this Forum to deepen the collaboration between the energy and defence communities to support the energy transition in the defence sector, and, in particular, to identify dual-use solutions to common challenges, from energy efficiency to enhancing the use of renewable energy”.

Hans Rhein, Head of Unit LIFE Energy and LIFE Climate, European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), said: “We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with the European Defence Agency and build on the results achieved. The Commission has granted close to €10 million to EDA over the past seven years to assist the European defence sector in addressing sustainable energy. The contribution by the defence and security sector is crucial to achieving the decarbonisation of the economy by 2050”.

Background information

• EDEN Phase IV
• Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector IV (CF SEDSS IV)
• EDEN Deliverables Phase III
• EU Defence Industry - European Commission
• Communication on climate and defence
• Safer together: A path towards a fully prepared Union - European Commission
• LIFE Programme

 

 

If you think hybrid technology is just for saving fuel on your morning commute, think again. Europe’s armed forces are making significant strikes in this field, and it’s not just about fuel efficiency.  

Imagine infantry vehicles gliding across the terrain, whisper-quiet, with meanwhile reduced fuel consumption. That is the promise of hybrid military tech. 

Over the past 15 months, the second phase of the Hybrid Drive Train Demonstrator (HybriDT II) project has been seeking to turn this vision into reality. On 26 November, the project successfully concluded with a final meeting at the Dutch Army base in Oirschot. The research focused on both wheeled vehicles, specifically 8×8 and 6×6 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), and tracked vehicles. 

Launched under the CapTech Ground Systems framework of the EDA’s Research and Innovation Directorate, HybriDT II, aims to enhance maneuverability, improve energy efficiency, cut fuel consumption, and lower emissions.  
EDA as Hub for EU Defence Cooperation  HybriDT II brought together several Member States, with Germany leading the initiative. Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovenia also participated. The project was carried out by a consortium of 13 industrial and research entities, including AVL List as the project leader and General Dynamics European Land Systems – Steyr from Austria. Other contributors included Germany’s AVL Schrick, AVL Software and Functions, and the Institute for Chemical Technology Fraunhofer; the Dutch firms DNV, TNO, and VDL; Poland’s Military University of Technology and Huta Stalowa Wola Ironworks; and Slovenia’s AVL Slovenia, Elaphe Propulsion Technology, and the University of Ljubljana. 
What’s next?  HybriDT II’s journey is far from over. The next phase, HybriDT III, will tackle the remaining challenges and further advance hybrid technology for military applications. 
A glimpse into the future  At the final meeting, attendees had a chance to witness the future firsthand. Dutch defence companies showed important advancements in hydrogen-based propulsion systems for heavy-duty vehicles and mobility technologies. 

Americas The Pentagon has once again grounded its entire fleet of V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. This comes after a worrying incident at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on November 20, where a CV-22 Osprey experienced a near-crash shortly after takeoff. Initial investigations suggest that weakened metal components in a critical part may have been a contributing factor. The decision to pause all Osprey flights came as a recommendation from Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, the head of Naval Air Systems Command, which oversees the Osprey program for the military. This incident bears a striking resemblance to a fatal crash off the coast of Japan in November of the previous year. In that crash, eight Air Force Special Operations Command personnel lost their lives when similar weakened metal components caused the Osprey’s transmission to fail catastrophically in mid-flight. Saab has snagged a noteworthy contract, worth $48 million, to supply its cutting-edge Giraffe 4A radar systems to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Deliveries of these mobile, multi-function radar systems are expected to commence in 2027 with BAE Systems Technical Solutions & Services Inc. serving as the prime contractor for this award. The Giraffe 4A is set to play a crucial […]

Americas The US Department of Defense has introduced a new strategy aimed at enhancing the protection of military facilities and personnel from the growing threat of drones. While the strategy itself is classified, an unclassified fact sheet details its broader scope, including expanding the Pentagon’s knowledge of emerging drone threat patterns. The strategy also emphasizes stronger collaboration with allies and industry partners to ensure the rapid, large-scale deployment of counter-drone solutions. Northrop Grumman has been tapped to provide a significant upgrade to the US Marine Corps’ F/A-18 fleet, enhancing the aircraft’s targeting capabilities with its Advanced Tactical Data Links (ATDL) technology integrated into the LITENING targeting pods. This move marks a major leap forward in data transfer speeds, equipping Marine aviators with the ability to make decisions more swiftly and effectively in the heat of battle. The LITENING pod, a mainstay in various militaries worldwide, is an advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system designed for precision targeting and surveillance. The incorporation of ATDL elevates the pod’s capabilities by providing a secure, two-way, multi-band link for transmitting critical data, encompassing live video feeds, still imagery, and essential metadata. Middle East & Africa The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale […]

Americas Canada will boost its military and diplomatic presence in the Arctic to counter what it calls threats from Russia and others seeking a foothold in the far north, as part of a new doctrine unveiled Friday. The government envisions the deployment of new patrol ships and navy destroyers, ice breakers and submarines capable of operating beneath ice sheets, as well as more aircraft and drones. The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $590-million contract for continued work on the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system. This is part of a follow-on production effort to enhance the electronic warfare capabilities of the EA-18G Growler aircraft used by the US Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Raytheon will provide shipsets, support equipment, spares and non-recurring engineering support. Middle East & Africa The Israeli military said Sunday it had deployed forces to a demilitarized buffer zone in southwest Syria abutting the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights after Damascus fell to rebel forces. Israel had already said the day before, as the Islamist-led rebels swiftly advanced across Syria, that its soldiers had entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone to assist peacekeepers in repelling an attack. On Sunday, the army announced a troop deployment there, citing “the possible entry of armed individuals into the buffer zone.” Europe […]