Defense`s Feeds

A US Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter made a crash landing in coastal Virginia. The incident took place shortly before 11:30 am on January 12. Virginia State Police said the aircraft hit several trees on the way down. The MH-60S was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, based out of Naval Station Norfolk, roughly 30 miles southeast of Smithfield.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division achieved the Aegis light-off milestone on the US Navy’s first Flight III Arleigh Burke Class guided missile destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125). The Flight III upgrade incorporates a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability. Aegis light-off is an important milestone for integrating and activating all of the new electric plant equipment and combat systems.

An Israeli company’s subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates inked a $53 million deal to supply direct infrared countermeasures and airborne electronic warfare systems for A330 tanker aircraft. According to reports, this is the first public deal for the recently established Elbit Systems Emirates Limited. Elbit Systems said the project will take five years.

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Greece of Follow-on Support for F-16 Engine Maintenance and related equipment for an estimated cost of $233 million. Greece had requested to buy parts and services to support follow-on depot level maintenance and sustainment of F100-PW-229 engines to include spare, repair parts, and accessories; repair and return services; publications and technical documentation; US Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

Saab will be delivering MS20 Block 2 capability upgrades to Hungary’s Gripen fighter aircraft which includes upgrading their radars, enhancing Link 16 functionality and enabling them to carry more weapons, the company announced. Saab said the Hungarian Government Commissioner Office responsible for defence development and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) successfully completed the negotiations for the MS20 Block 2 capability upgrade to the Hungarian fleet of Gripen jets.

Thailand’s cabinet approved a plan to buy four fighter jets starting in the next fiscal year, an air force spokesman said on Wednesday, with a budget of $413.67 million set aside for the procurement. The approval follows a recent expression of interest by the air force chief, Air Chief Marshal Napadej Dhupatemiya, in procuring eight F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.

Watch: Nothing Can Kill the Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer

The Pentagon has assigned BAE Systems to produce and install a new airborne high frequency radio to replace the AN/ARC-190 on various types of aircraft. The press release says approximately 2,500 radios will be installed on Air Force’s HC-130J, KC-135, C-130H, C-130J, C-17, C-5, B-1, B-52, and E4-B, as well as the Navy’s E6-B, the Marine Corps’ KC-130J, and the Coast Guard’s C-130 and C-130J. BAE Systems will be tasked to install 2,000 radios.

The US Army is moving a step towards developing a new wheeled 155 mm howitzer and is asking companies to participate in a multi-year assessment that could lead to the design of a new weapon system. The US Army Contracting Command said that the request would help to do market research and pick candidates for the multiyear capability assessment program.

Algeria has acquired a 120mm Chinese self-propelled mortar, according to information shared on twitter. The new Chinese 120-mm mortar, manufactured by Chengdu Lingchuan Special Industry, is mounted on a Dongfeng Mengshi CSK131 with a 6 × 6 wheel formula. The machine is reportedly equipped with an inertial navigation system and a battlefield control system. The process of aiming by calculating the coordinates of the target, which will be hit by mortar fire, according to the developers, takes 30 seconds.

Russia’s Tu-160M strategic bomber, the heavily modernized version of the Soviet era Tu-160 long range bomber, today undertook its first flight marking the potential of the aircraft to carry latest weapons such as hypersonic missiles. The aircraft took off from the airfield of the Kazan Aviation Plant, a Tupolev branch of the United Aircraft Corporation. The flight took place at an altitude of 600 meters and lasted about 30 minutes. The crew of test pilots of PJSC “Tupolev” performed maneuvers to check the stability and controllability of the aircraft in the air, Rostec said in a release.

France and Spain has successfully controlled an MQ-9 Reaper drone from the 02/33 “Savoie” drone squadron in the same airspace as commercial aircraft in December of 2021. Since January 2017, the French civil and military authorities have been carrying out an experimentation campaign to explore the operational framework and the changes necessary for the continued integration of MALE (medium altitude long endurance) drones into civil air traffic.

South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) tested a counter missile system for military aircraft to help dodge enemies’ portable surface-to-air missiles. The directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system enables aircraft to dodge missiles by emitting a laser beam to the ground, blinding missiles that rely on heat to track targets, the ADD said in a statement Wednesday.

Watch: Tu-160 Blackjack in Action

United States Force in South Korea, is being outfitted with newest AH-64 Version 6 (V6) helicopter. “The upgraded aircraft integrates modern technology for both the aviator and maintainers in our battalion,” Capt. Timothy Luchs, D Company commander, said. “For our maintainers, the new systems onboard allows them better diagnostic capability and decreases the downtime of the aircraft. While for the aviator, AH-64E provides an overall increased situational awareness with an upgraded sensor suite, level 4 manned-unmanned teaming, and an upgraded drive system which is a vast improvement over the Delta variant of the model.”

The US Air Force is passing targeting information from A-10 Thunderbolts to the F-35B jets in order for the latter to destroy them. Last week, the Idaho Air National Guard welcomed US Marines from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, who fly the F-35B Lightning II, to Gowen Field. The squadron brought four of the fifth-generation fighters to train with A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 124th Fighter Wing’s 190th Fighter Squadron.

Turkey’s Naval Forces Command will receive the country’s first domestically developed intelligence collection ship A-591 Ufuk on January 14. The delivery ceremony to be held in Istanbul Shipyard is expected to be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, local media reported.

BAE Systems announced it signed a new support, sustainment, and readiness agreement with the Norwegian Army for its fleet of 144 CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, securing a new contract model to support the availability and continuous modernization of the fleet. The seven-year agreement with the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation governs the purchase of components and equipment, as well as management and engineering work. It includes maintenance of the System Integration Lab, which ensures that both the customer and BAE Systems can monitor vehicles’ current conditions and state of readiness to optimize vehicle performance and capabilities across the fleet.

The United Kingdom has received its ninth and final Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime multimission aircraft (MMA), with ZP809 arriving at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lossiemouth in Scotland on January 11. This brings a two-year delivery run that began with the arrival of ZP801 Pride of Moray in February 2020 to an end. Since then, ZP802 City of Elgin, ZP803 Terence Bulloch DSO DFC, ZP804 Spirit of Reykjavik, ZP805 Fulmar, ZP806 Guernsey’s Reply, ZP807 William Barker VC, and ZP808 have all been received.

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) flight tested the final deliverable configuration of Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The present test was to prove the consistent performance for the minimum range. The missile performance has been proven for the maximum range in earlier test trials.

Watch: Defence Insights: INS Vikrant Sea Trials, Turkish A591 Ufuk, AH-64E in RoK and US F-35 Integration

EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý is in Austria (10-11 January) for high-level talks with Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner, Chief of Defence General Robert Brieger, Defence Policy Director Dr Arnold Kammel as well as the national Capability, Armaments and Research Directors at the Ministry of Defence, Major General Bruno Hofbauer, Major General Harald Vodosek and Colonel Rudolf Zauner. The trip to Vienna is part of Mr Šedivý’s ‘tour des capitales’ that, since last year, sees him visiting all EDA Member States.

Yesterday’s discussions with Minister Tanner mainly focused on Austria’s strong involvement in EDA’s current and future activities, the need to drive defence innovation in Europe and the prospect of reinforcing EDA's role in supporting Member States in this area , the contributions the Armed Forces can make to the EU’s Green Deal policy, the follow-up on the conclusions and recommendations of the first Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) presented in November 2020, the state of play in the PESCO implementation, the functioning of the European Defence Fund (EDF) as well as the preparations for the EU’s Strategic Compass to be approved next March.

A particular focus was put during these talks on two specific Austria-led projects in which the Agency is directly involved: - the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Surveillance as a Service (CBRN SaaS) project launched under PESCO which, at the request of its participating Member States, is supported by the Agency since 2019 when a dedicated EDA project was established on this topic; - and the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Reconnaissance Surveillance System (CBRN RSS) project, funded and implemented under the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), for which EDA has now been tasked to act as the project manager (see related news).

“I am particularly grateful for Austria’s very active involvement in the Agency’s work and, especially, for its leading roles in the Counter-IED area, where it hosts the European Centre for Manual Neutralisation Capabilities (ECMAN), and the CBRN reconnaissance and surveillance domain. Back in 2019, the CBRN SaaS project was the very first PESCO project for which EDA’s direct support was requested by the participating Member States, led by Austria. This served as an important signal and example which, since then, has been followed by the owners and drivers of four other PESCO projects. We hope that many more will follow in the future because the Agency is keen and ready to provide this kind of expertise-based support to its Member States.  I can only thank the Austrian authorities for their strong commitment to EDA’s activities and European defence cooperation in general, and encourage them to pursue on this path”, Mr Šedivý commented.

Austria’s Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner said: “Today I met the Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency Jiří Šedivý to discuss current projects and future cooperation between the European Defence Agency and the Austrian Armed Forces. EDA supports the EU Member States in developing and improving military capabilities through cooperation in the field of R&D. With its network and expertise the EDA is thus an important partner as well as an important instrument of the EU to support smaller member states in European defence cooperation. Austria has been an active and tireless member of the EDA since it began its work in 2004. With more than 30 projects, Austria is one of the most committed member states, ranking sixth next to Poland. For our Ministry of Defence, the PESCO project "CBRN Surveillance as a Service" has become a particular showcase project. It was launched in 2018 and aims to develop the use of unmanned ground systems and drones equipped with sensors to detect CBRN warfare agents in a timely manner. As an intergovernmental agency, the EDA plays a decisive role in promoting innovation both for Austria and other Member States. Concerning the future, we want to focus even more on cooperation and collaboration with the Defence Agency, for the safety of the population in Austria as well as in Europe as a whole”.

Industry event

Today 11 January, Mr Šedivý will meet with the CEO of the Austrian Defence & Security Industry (ASW), Reinhard Marak, and other industry representatives and participate in an industry event.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the amphibious transport dock Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) being built for the US Navy. Richard M. McCool Jr., the 13th LPD in the San Antonio class of amphibious assault force ships, will support US amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st century.

The Argentinian Ministry of Defense has approved the purchase of two Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King helicopters for the Argentinian Navy. The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (company designation S-61) is an American twin-engined anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft. ASW equipment used on Sea Kings has included the AQS-13A/B/E dipping sonar which included specialized computers for processing sonar and sonobuoy data, various models of sonobuoys, ARR-75 Sonobuoy Receivers, and the ASQ-81 Magnetic Anomaly Detector.

Smart Shooter has unveiled SMASH Dragon, an armed drone system incorporating company-developed SMASH Technology for precise target elimination. SMASH Dragon is an advanced robotic weaponry payload that can be mounted on different drones and other unmanned aerial platforms. It can incorporate various types of assault rifles, sniper rifles, 40mm, and other ammunition with great precision. Extremely lightweight and therefore allowing long mission endurance, SMASH Dragon integrates a unique stabilization concept with the SMASH technology that enables the system to accurately hit static and moving targets while flying.

Raytheon Systems was awarded a $13.5 million contract by the UK Ministry of Defense for in-service support for the AMRAAM missile system. The AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile), also designated AIM-120, has a 30 to 40 mile range and can reach a speed of Mach 4. The system is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operation.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is confident that the first Tejas MK-2 prototype will be rolled out by end of this year or early next year. R. Madhavan, Chief Managing Director, said that the design has been finalized and some manufacturing activities have started.

Pakistan has decided not to purchase the T129 attack helicopter from Turkey, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has disclosed. Instead, the country will explore buying the Z-10 attack helicopter from China. The US government had refused to grant an export license for the T129 LHTEC T800 turboshaft engine to Pakistan.

Watch: Smart Shooter SMASH 2000 system – ‘smart rifle’ that only shoots if the bullet will hit an enemy

EDA has taken over the role of project manager of the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Surveillance Reconnaissance Surveillance System (CBRN RSS) project which is being funded and implemented under the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP).  

The decision was made following a request by Austria on behalf of the four Member States participating in a related PESCO project, the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Surveillance as a Service (CBRN SaaS) project, which is already supported by EDA since 2019. In this new role, the Agency will not only manage all CBRN RSS implementation activities with the consortium, but also interact with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) in relation to this project.

With the aim of targeting capability development through the support of innovation and competitiveness of the Union’s defence industry, the EDIDP 2020 calls for proposals, of which CBRN RSS was part of, sought to fund 26 projects from an array of defence domains with a broad geographical coverage. Since the first call in 2019, the EDIDP has shown its success becoming a strategic enabler for Europe’s defence. 

The CBRN project area can be traced back to 2019 when, for this first time, EDA was chosen to support the CBRN SaaS PESCO project. This decision resulted in the establishment of a so-called ‘Category B’ project within the Agency with four Member States participating (Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia). Under this new establishment, and as requested by the participants EDA further developed the project with the signature of a contract with the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) as the consortium leader. The aim of the CBRN SaaS project, within the EDA framework, is to develop a technological demonstrator to deliver a recognised CBRN picture that will enhance knowledge-based decision-making for operations. The main deliverable will achieve the Initial Operational Capability of the PESCO project, which is aimed to be attained by the mid-2024. 

In the meantime, a new opportunity arose to even further develop the CBRN SaaS.  Indeed, in 2020, AIT used the EDIDP calls to submit a proposal for expanding the project into a Reconnaissance Surveillance System. With success, because in July 2021,  the CBRN RSS proposal was accepted as eligible. In addition, an EDIDIP Grant Agreement was signed in December 2021 between DG DEFIS and the respective industry consortium – represented by AIT as the consortium leader. Even though CBRN SaaS and CBRN RSS are implemented through different channels (EDIDP and EDA respectively), they are complementary and aligned in such a way that the contract under EDA’s Category B project is set to deliver a basic version of the technological demonstrator, while an enhanced version will be provided by the EDIDP project. In practice, this means that at the end, only one single technological demonstrator will be assembled. The main difference between both projects is therefore the funding schemes under which they fall. Timewise, both projects aim at achieving their expected results by  mid- 2024. 

The fact that EDA has been tasked to also manage the CBRN RSS project is testament to the participating Member States’ confidence in the Agency, but it also reflects EDA’s commitment and persistence to further support Member States in developing their capability spectrum. The RSS project will take its first step with the kick-off meeting between the European Commission, Industry Consortium, Member States, and EDA on 13 January.

EDA’s role as project manager of the CBRN RSS EDIDP project is envisaged within two different spheres. On the one hand, and within the EDIDP overall project, EDA will act as the primary interface between Member States, the industry consortium, the European Commission, and third parties. This task will also see EDA  overseeing the implementation of the project on behalf of the participating Member States, including the supervision and validation of work packages as well as the management of schedules. On the other hand, EDA has also been tasked to act as the Programme Security Instruction (PSI) custodian within the security framework of the EDIDP project, which requires not only the coordination of requests by Member States, but also ensuring the compliance of the PSI provisions.

The new project manager role confirms EDA’s willingness to break new ground and take on new functions and responsibilities wherever it helps to bring forward collaborative European defence capability development. 

Bell Boeing won a $1.6 billion deal for the repair, replacement, required availability, configuration management, and inventory management for supply support for 228 MV-22B (Marine); CMV-22 (Navy); and CV-22 (Air Force) Osprey aircraft components. The V-22 Osprey is a family of multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical as well as short takeoff and landing capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. Work will take place e in Texas and Pennsylvania. Estimated completion will be by December 2026.

Peraton Inc., a company that provides satellite and terrestrial communication, network optimization, and managed security services, was awarded a $18 million contract by the US Air Force to sustain engineering services support for the B-1B Reprogrammable Electronic Warfare Systems test and B-52 Bomber Electronic Attack Systems test facilities and special test equipment. The B-1B Lancer is the US Air Force long-range strategic bomber developed by Rockwell International, now Boeing Defense And Space Group. The B-52H is the US Air Force’s long-range, large-payload multirole bomber and is known as the Stratofortress. Work will take place in Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Estimated completion date is January 10, 2027.

Morocco and Israel Aerospace Industries discussed buying the latter’s Barak-8 MR air defense missile system. IAI sent marketing director Sharon Biton to lead the negotiations, Jerusalem Post reports. The Barak-8 MR-SAM system is able to shoot down enemy aircraft at a range of 50-70 kilometers and is designed to defend naval vessels against a myriad of short-to-long-range airborne threats.

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the France. The sale would be for the MQ-9 Follow-on Contractor Logistics Support and related equipment for an estimated cost of $300 million. France had requested to buy follow-on Contractor Logistics Support to include contractor provided MQ-9 aircraft components, spares and accessories; repair and return; software and software support services; simulator software; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; US Government and contractor provided engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost is $300 million, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a release Friday.

Turkish Aerospace Inc. (TAI) is said to have delivered two T129 attack helicopters to the Philippines on January 8. The South East Asian country has ordered six helicopters and two more are set to arrive next year while the last two will reach home in 2024. In November, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) commander Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes disclosed that the six helicopters would be in the country as soon as December. The T129 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is designed for advanced attack and reconnaissance missions in hot and high environments and rough geography in both day and night conditions.

The United States and Japan will soon sign a deal on collaborating more closely in R&D of defense-related technologies, including ways to counter threats from hypersonic weapons. This was announced ahead of January 6-7 virtual US-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting between Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Defense Austin, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi, and Minister of Defense Kishi. Blinken said the two countries would sign a new deal designed to counter emerging threats such as hypersonic and space-based weaponry, days after North Korea tested what it claimed to be a hypersonic missile. Some Japanese media reports said the projectile fell close to its Exclusive Economic Zone.

Watch: T129 ATAK – Turkish Attack Helicopter in Action

One of two missile tracking ships operated by the Military Sealift Command was recently retired at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on December 15, 2021. The white hulled-ship was used previously to track ballistic missile activity in the Middle East using the GRAY STAR radar. The radar system will be repurposed by the Air Force Research Laboratory to conduct testing and evaluation of advanced radar technologies, says Air Force Technical Applications center.

Elbit Systems’ Brazilian subsidiary, AEL Sistemas S.A. won a contract to supply additional Hermes 900 UAS to the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira). The contract is in an amount that is not material to Elbit Systems and will be performed over a period of 16 months.

Aselsan has been adapting the Sarp remote weapon station (RWS) with the capability to fire the Atom 40 mm high-velocity airburst munition, the company reported in its January 2022 bulletin. Atom Sarp was test-fired in June 2021 against dummies representing dispersed insurgents under cover, inside buildings, and in the field.

The Hellenic Air Force will begin operating its Rafale fighters after January 19 when six aircraft arrive home at Tanágra airbase.Two dual-seat Rafales will be joined by four single-seat Rafales for the ferry flight home.

Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS) signed an agreement with Leonardo to provide maintenance services for the Norwegian fleet of SAR Queen / AW101 Search & Rescue helicopters. The contract will be performed in the period 2022-2026.

North Korea said it conducted tests of a hypersonic missile on Wednesday, three months after it launched a similar missile. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party expressed “great satisfaction” at the results of the missile test observed by leading weapons officials. The KCNA had reported in September that the North fired a “hypersonic gliding warhead” which made a 120km-long lateral movement before hitting a target 700km away. It wasn’t immediately known if both are the same type of hypersonic missile.

Watch: AW101

BAE Systems won a $24.6 million deal for the Military Global Positioning System User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) contract. The modification incorporates MSI Engineering Change Proposal-1 into the baseline and provides continued MSI with Next Generation Application-Specific Integrated Circuit Technology Development capabilities. The goal of MGUE Inc 2 is to develop, integrate, and produce M-Code capable, GPS receivers for the service requirements specified in the Joint Requirements Oversight Council approved MGUE Inc 2 Capability Development Document.  Work will take place in Iowa. Estimated completion date is August 31, 2025.

The MQ-8C is now in the US 7th Fleet area of operations, which spans from the International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Langholf posted photos of the unmanned aerial vehicle on the flight deck of USS Jackson (LCS 6) while they were in Guam on December 22. The helicopter is assigned to HSC-23.

The Qatar Air Force took delivery of the first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) recently, manufacturer Leonardo has announced. The first TTH version helicopter for land-based tasks was delivered on 11 December, in line with contractual commitments, and will be followed in the coming months by the first NFH, dedicated to naval operations, after qualifications. Deliveries will continue until 2025.

The British Ministry of Defense announced, that a logistics system critical to British military operations around the world will be supported under a new five-year, $625 million contract with Boeing Defence UK. The contract supports implementation of the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper, published last year, which placed an emphasis on more productive, active and globally deployed Armed Forces.

Leonardo completed the acquisition of 25.1 per cent of the shares in HENSOLDT AG, a leading German player in the field of sensors for defense and security applications, with an expanding portfolio in sensors, data management and robotics, for a cash consideration of €606 million. According to a news release, the transaction is a step forward in helping to achieve Leonardo’s strategic objective of acquiring a leadership position in the European Defence Electronics market, as defined by the “Be Tomorrow – Leonardo 2030” Plan, and reflects Leonardo’s determination to play an active role in the consolidation process underway, also in the light of future cooperation programmes in continental Europe.

North Korea has carried out its possible first ballistic missile test in 2022 by launching one into the East Sea shortly after 8 am local time today. The country has fired an unidentified projectile into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. According to the Japanese government, the projectile may have been a “ballistic missile”.

Watch: The Qatar Air Force Takes Delivery of First NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter!

Bell-Boeing won a $7.9 million contract modification, which provides for additional post-production repairs and related system engineering and program management support for the MV-22B Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization retrofit program. The V-22 Osprey is a joint-service, medium-lift, multimission tilt-rotor aircraft. The Marine Corps variant, MV-22B, provides reliable and safe transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment. Work will take place in Pennsylvania and Texas. Estimated completion will be in March 2023.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is underway for a patrol of the Indo-Pacific and this deployment notes a number of firsts. The Marine Corps is sending its F-35C out to sea for its first operational deployment by bringing VMFA-314 aboard the carrier. VRM-30 will also deploy for the first time along with its CMV-22B. The squadron was established at NAS North Island in 2018.

According to Elbit Systems, the UAE Air Force’s Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft will soon be fitted with Direct Infrared Countermeasures and airborne Electronic Warfare systems supplied by Elbit Systems Emirates Limited in a $53 million contract. The contract runs for five years.

Norwegian F-16s will fly their last mission out of Bodø Air Base on January 6 and the base will end all fighter operations after that. Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties in the Artic area will be taken over by fighters stationed at Evenes Air Station. Two F-16s will launch from Bodø on Jan. 6 but one will land back at the base to be retired as an exhibit in the local museum.

South Korea started constructing the second KSS-III Batch-II submarine. The boat, built by local shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), will be completed by 2026 and delivered to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) in 2028 after undergoing sea trials.

According to local news, an F-35A fighter operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force made an emergency landing during a training session Tuesday due to avionic system issues. The radar-evading jet made the belly landing on a runway at an air base in Seosan, 151km south of Seoul, at 12:51 pm after the issues caused the landing gear to momentarily malfunction, officials were quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.

Watch: Airbus A330 SMART MRTT Reveal | Next Level Multi Role Tanker Transport Aircraft

The Air Force awarded Canadian Commercial a $70 million deal for the Wescam Aggregate Services Plan. This contract provides for the continuation of contractor logistics support for the three configurations of L-3 Communications/Wescam MX Electro/Optical Infrared (EO/IR) Sensor System line replaceable units installed on the AC-130U/W/J. The AC-130U Spooky is the third generation of C-130 gunships. All gunships evolved from the first operational gunship, the AC-47, to the AC-119, and then the AC-130A which was the basis for the modern C-130 Hercules gunship. Work under the contract will take place in Florida and New Mexico. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2028.

Raytheon won a $55 million contract modification for engineering and technical services in support of the Evolved Seasparrow Missile and NATO Seasparrow Missile Systems programs. The deal combines purchases for the US government and the governments of Japan and United Arab Emirates under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) or RIM-162 is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile. The missile is currently in service with the US Navy and some of the 12 Nato Sea Sparrow consortium nations. Work will take place in Arizona, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Spain, Australia and Greece. Estimated completion date will be in December 2022.

Spanish news Larazon reports that Morocco will soon be taking delivery of the MBDA VL MICA ground based air defense missile system. The new system will complement the Chinese-made FD-2000 air defense system protecting Morocco.

First of Russia’s new S-550 air defense systems have entered combat service after clearing state trials. “The S-550 air defense system has successfully completed state trials. The first S-550 brigade has entered combat duty,” a source close to the Russian defense ministry was quoted as saying by government-owned TASS.

Boeing won a $471.3 million contract action for the F-15 Japan Super Interceptor Program. The contract action provides for the design and development of an integrated suite of aircraft systems to support modification of the Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15MJ aircraft and the development, test, and delivery of four Weapon System Trainers. Work will take place in Missouri. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2028.

Hindustan Times reports that French Navy Rafale M fighter will be at INS Hansa to carry out suitability trials with the ski jump there. The trials, which begins on January 6, is to determine whether the French fighter is a good fit for Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Testing will last 12 days. The same article says India might lease up to five Rafale Ms when INS Vikrant is commissioned later this year.

Watch: URafale M to be tested in India for STOBAR take off | Will it fit the Vikrant’s hanger?

Sikorsky won a $30.7 million contract modification by the US Navy, which increases the scope to procure 681 spare parts for the CH-53K low-rate initial production configuration aircraft. The CH-53K King Stallion is a large cargo helicopter designed to replace the Marine Corps fleet of CH-53E heavy-lift helicopters to help move Marines and their equipment from ships offshore onto attack beaches. The CH-53K is a general redesign of the CH-53E. Work will take place in Connecticut, France, Washington, Canada, Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Georgia. Estimated completion date will be in December 2026.

The Navy awarded General Atomics a $14.5 million order, which provides facilities, labor, material, and logistics services in support of the correction of deficiencies identified during prior qualification cycles for the block A21/A22 sustainment phase of the advanced arresting gear for CVN 78 and testing sites. CVN 78 is the Gerald R. Ford Class, the future aircraft carrier replacement class for Enterprise and Nimitz class aircraft carriers for the US Navy. Work will take place in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Mississippi. Estimated completion will be in April 2023.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has received upgraded ILGAR Combat Electronic Warfare System from Aselsan. Ismail Demir, chairperson of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), announced on Twitter that the ILGAR system was handed over to the Army recently.

The ‘Future Cruise/Anti–Ship Weapon’ will reportedly be fitted to the Royal Navy’s Type 26 Frigates. The vessel will also be armed with a five inch main gun as well as Sea Ceptor anti-air missiles.

On December 27, Philippine’s Department of Budget Management (DBM) issued two special allotment release orders (SARO) worth around $54 million to buy shore-based anti-ship missile system for the Philippine Navy. Media reports in India also said that the Philippines is close to finalizing the BrahMos anti-ship missile deal.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed confirmed the country’s acquisition of 25 J-10C multirole fighters from China. The minister told reporters in Rawalpindi that a full squadron of 25 J-10C jets will do a flyover on Pakistan Day ceremony on March 23 next year. The minister repeatedly mispronounced the name of the fighter, referring to them as “Chinese JS-10.” He added that the J-10C is “an answer to India’s Rafale jets.”

Watch: USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) Super Aircraft carrier in action

Lockheed Martin won a $102.4 million deal for production and delivery of hardware components and spares of the Apache Attack Helicopter Modernized Target Acquisition Designation/Pilot Night Vision Sensor System. The Apache Arrowhead (also Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor or M-TADS/PNVS), is an integrated targeting and night vision system developed by Lockheed Martin for the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is July 31, 2024.

General Atomics won a $69.9 million deal that provides non-recurring engineering and program management services in support of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system for the CVN 81 aircraft carrier, minus energy storage subsystem. The deal provides for the evaluation, production, manufacture, assembly, integration and test of engineering changes to product hardware, software, technical data, and logistics products throughout the configuration management process associated with the EMALS and AAG system for the CVN 81 aircraft carrier, minus the energy storage subsystem. Work will take place in California. Estimated completion will be in December 2023.

Israel unveiled a package of “confidence-building measures” for the occupied West Bank, after Defense Minister Benny Gantz hosted talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on his first visit in years. Abbas, leading a high-ranking delegation on his first visit to Israel for an official meeting since 2010, held talks with Gantz at his home in the central town of Rosh HaAyin, according to Israeli sources and media. After the rare visit, which drew condemnation from the enclave’s Hamas rulers, an Israeli was wounded in a shooting attack on the Gaza border on Wednesday, the military said.

Russia’s state-owned Rostec handed over modernized A-50U long-range Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft to the military. The A-50U can detect fundamentally new types of aircraft, and is also capable of simultaneously tracking a greater number of targets and guided fighters than the previous modification.

The US State Department last week approved the sale of 230 Javelin FGM-148F anti-tank Missiles and 20 Javelin Command Launch Units (CLUs) to the Lithuanian Army for an estimated cost of $125 million. The original Foreign Military Sale (FMS), valued at $28.23 million, included one hundred eleven (111) Javelin FGM-148F missiles and ten (10) Javelin CLUs. Therefore, this notification is for a total of three hundred forty-one (341) Javelin FGM-148F missiles and thirty (30) Javelin CLUs.

Raytheon won a $23.2 million deal for the procurement of multi-spectral targeting systems for the US Navy Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). These systems provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) detection, identification and targeting capability in day/night operations for both manned and unmanned platforms. Work will take place in Texas. Estimated completion will be by March 2023.

Watch: Episode 86. The A-50: Chasing the Invisible

General Electric Aviation won an $18.4 million order, which provides engineering and engine system improvement services for F414 engine component improvements in support of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.The engine is a 22,000-pound class afterburning turbofan engine. It features an axial compressor with 3 fan stages and 7 high-pressure compressor stages, and 1 high-pressure and 1 low-pressure turbine stage. At a weight of 2,445 pounds, the F414-GE-400 has a thrust-to-weight ratio of nine. Work will take place in Massachusetts. Estimated completion will be in December 2022.

BAE Information and Electronic Systems Integration won a maximum $42 million contract modification with one five-year option period adding National Stock Number 1680-K0-107-337VM for ALR-56M radar warning receiver shipsets. The AN/ALR-56 radar warning receiver (RWR) is designed to detect incoming radar signals, identify, associate these signals to a known threat and alert the aircraft crew. Work will take place in New York and New Jersey. Estimated completion date is March 30, 2024.

According to the Associated Press, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has staged a military exercise consisting of a five-day drill across the country’s south region amid heightened tensions over the government’s nuclear program. The news was first published last week. Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, at a news conference gave a vague answer when asked by a reporter whether the country would enrich uranium to weapons-grade 90 percent purity. On December 24, Al Jazeera reported that the IRGC has fired 16 surface-to-surface ballistic missiles at the close of five days of military drills. Generals reportedly said the drills were a warning to Israel.

The Netherlands Ministry of Defense officially declared Initial Operational Capable (IOC) for the Air Force’s F-35 squadron. The military will now be able to deploy a unit of 4 F-35s with personnel and equipment anywhere in the world for a short period of time.

Russia has reportedly offered India to develop its own armored vehicles with the country based on the Armata universal Armata platform. At the Army-2021 forum, the head of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev, told defense ministry’s Zvezda that in the coming years Russia will bring about 50 new types of weapons and special equipment to foreign markets.

South Korea’s Defense Project Promotion Committee has approved a plan to replace the country’s CH-47D helicopters with new ones. The project will cost $1.2 billion and will run from 2022 to 2028.

Watch: T-14 Armata Russian Main Battle Tank – Tank Overview

Lockheed Martin won a $324.1 million contract modification, which exercises options to support calendar year 2022 modification and retrofit activities for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program to include the procurement of material modification kits as well as program management, non-recurring engineering, aircraft induction, contractor field, depot site and laser shock peening site support. The modification adds scope for the procurement of material kits as well as special tooling and test equipment necessary to support F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft retrofit and modification efforts for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-US Department of Defense participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers from the governments of Israel, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Work will take place in Texas, Japan, Italy, Australia, North Carolina and Utah.

A successful ground demonstration of solar energy to radio frequency (RF) conversion for the Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research (SSPIDR) Project has been successfully conducted. Manufactured by Northrop Grumman, the single “sandwich tile” will be the first of many panels that will form up to a square meter onboard the Arachne satellite that will launch into space in 2025. Scientists hope to generate electrical power by converting solar energy in space and beam it back to earth.

Turkey carried out tests of the Hisar O+ short-range air defense system from an autonomous missile launching system in Aksaray Shooting Range last week. In a statement Sunday, the Defense Ministry said the HISAR O+ is ready for use.

Russia’s MC-21-300 aircraft with a locally-made polymer composite wing has made its first flight. The liner took off from the airfield of Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)-owned Irkut company, Rostec announced.

Japan’s cabinet has finalized the defense budget for 2022 and Tokyo will allocate $445 million to buy four F-35B fighters. Another $671 million will go towards the purchase of another eight F-35A fighters. To prepare JS Izumo for the operation of F-35Bs, a sum of $53 million was approved.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a contract worth nearly $750 million with LIG Nex1 and Hanwha for mass production of military satellite communication system-II ground terminals. The contract will be performed over a period of five years from 2021 to 2025.

Watch: H?SAR Anti-air Missile Defense System | TURKISH DELIGHT!

Boeing won a $239.6 million deal for the Apache Improved Turbine Engine Integration Phase II. The US Army plans to use the next-generation engine in all Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter engines. The service is also planning on using it on Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft it plans to field in the 2030s. Work will take place in Arizona. Estimated completion date is December 31.

Raytheon won a $250 million deal for a StormBreaker Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) integrated engineering change proposal. The StormBreaker bomb is an air-launched precision strike weapon manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems for the US Air Force and the US Navy. Work will take place in Arizona. Expected completion date is August 22, 2027.

Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems won a $51 million contract modification, which exercises an option to procure 65 BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Targets, 50 for the Navy, seven for the government of Japan, and eight for the government of Saudi Arabia, as well as associated technical and administrative data in support of full rate production lot three. BQM-177A is an advanced, high-subsonic, recoverable aerial target system. Work will take place in California, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Kansas and Wyoming. Estimated completion date will be in February 2024.

The Navy awarded Kay and Associates a $72.8 million deal to provide maintenance, operation, and management support services for the Hornets, Super Hornets and associated equipment, as well as maintenance repair and storage facilities for the Government of Kuwait. In September, Boeing completed the delivery of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet combat aircraft for Kuwait. Estimated completion will be in January 2023.

Amidst tensions with Ukraine, Russian Zirkon hypersonic missile was launched in a salvo of several missiles increasing its potential to destroy highly protected enemy formations such as aircraft carrier battle groups. “A salvo launch of the Zircon hypersonic system was carried out tonight or this morning,” Russian President Vladimir Putin  said at a joint meeting of the State Council and the Council for Science and Education on Friday. “The tests were carried out successfully, flawlessly,” Putin added.

Lockheed Martin won a $29.8 million contract modification for the US and the UK to provide Strategic Weapon System Trident Fleet Support, Trident II SSP Shipboard Integration (SSI) Increment 8, SSI Increment 16, Columbia-class and UK Dreadnought-class navigation subsystem development efforts. The Trident II D5 fleet ballistic missile (FBM) is a three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided ballistic missile developed by Lockheed Martin. Work will take place in New York, California, Florida and Massachusetts. Estimated completion date is November 30, 2023.

The construction of China State Shipbuilding Corp’s new shipyard on the Changxing Island, Shanghai, is set to open in 2023. The construction of the dock basin of the second phase of the Changxing Shipbuilding Base Project started on Wednesday with a commencement ceremony, CSSC Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding announced on its WeChat account.

Watch: Meet the U.S. Navy’s New High-Tech Bomb

Sikorsky won a $29.5, which procures logistics support analysis and products resulting from production engineering changes and diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages to include technical publications, logistics support analysis and logistics product data in support of CH-53K aircraft production and fielding. The Super Stallion can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. Estimated completion date is in December 2022. Work will be performed in Connecticut and the US.

Northrop Grumman won a $245.8 million contract modification, which provides for the exercise of five option contract line items to procure eight Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar systems, and associated spares, data, and travel in support of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR is a short- to medium-range, air-cooled Active Electronically Scanned Array radar under development for the Marine Corps. Work will take place in Maryland. Expected completion will be in January 2025.

Israel Innovation Authority recently approved the establishment of a new innovation consortium, led by Elbit Systems C4I and Cyber, for Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) technologies research and development. Dr. Aviv Zeevi, VP Technological Infrastructure at the Israel Innovation Authority, commented: “The Israel Innovation Authority is working to close technology gaps in the field of robotics using various tools as well as by promoting knowledge transfer from the defense sector and academia to the wider industry.”

The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the development and procurement of the H160M in the frame of the Light Joint Helicopter programme (HIL). The contract includes the development of several prototypes and the delivery of a first batch of 30 aircraft (21 for the army, 8 for the navy and one for the air force). The French Ministry for the Armed Forces plans to order a total of 169 H160M helicopters, or Guépard as it will be known in the French armed forces.

Northrop Grumman won a $353.6 million contract modification, which provides for the production and delivery of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the government of France. The E-2D is the US Navy’s premier airborne command and control aircraft for all targets and all environments. The French Navy has been operating the E-2C Hawkeye since 1998 and is the only country other than the United States to operate its E-2 Hawkeyes from an aircraft carrier. France’s plan to acquire three E-2Ds to replace the Navy’s old E-2C Hawkeyes was first revealed more than a year ago. The U.S. approved this sale for $2 billion in July 2020. The French Navy will be second only to Japan, to own these jets. Work will take place in New York, Florida, Indiana, California, Illinois and Connecticut. Estimates completion will be in April 2027.

Malaysia’s Deputy Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz told the Senate that Kuala Lumpur is “still waiting for discussions” with Kuwait over the purchase of the latter’s F/A-18C/D fleet. He was responding to an supplementary question from Senator Datuk Zaiedi Suhaili. Ikmal said the Royal Malaysian Air Force intends to use the aircraft till 2035.

Watch: Airbus Helicopter H160M

Boeing won a $30.3 million delivery order for the repair of 93 EA horizontal stabilizers used on the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft. The period of performance for this delivery order begins January 2022 and will be completed by September 2023 with no option periods. Work will take place in Florida and Missouri. The period of performance for this delivery order begins January 2022 and will be completed by September 2023 with no option periods.

The US Air Force is working on placing USB ports on the B-52 bomber, Bossier Now reports. This will allow the crew to charge their electronic tabs on long-distance flights without having to resort to battery packs.

Morocco is said to have received the FD-2000 long-range air defense missile system that it bought from China. The unit is to be based at Sidi Yahia el-Gharb, north east of Rabat. The layout of the missile site is different from the Chinese ones and is circular in pattern. There is no pad in the middle for the radar to be station.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Ground Force employed an advanced homegrown tank dubbed ‘Karrar’ for the first time during the ongoing massive joint military exercises. Press TV reported that Karrar, an upgraded version of the Soviet-era T-72M tanks, came into service during the Great Prophet 17 joint drills in the country’s southern coasts on Wednesday,

The Raggruppamento Temporaneo di Impresa (RTI) consortium led by Fincantieri signed an agreement with Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) to build the second Logistic Support Ship (LSS) for the Italian Navy. The LSS will be entirely built at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard, with delivery scheduled for 2025. The value of the contract is approximately € 410 million including the combat system, Fincantieri said.

Raytheon Missiles & Defense won a $578.3M firm-fixed-price modification to procure Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) production requirements. Requirements include all up rounds, instrumentation kits, engineering services and spares; and to definitize the long-lead-material undefinitized contract action in support of the Navy and the governments of Korea, Denmark, Taiwan, Netherlands, Spain, Chile, Japan and Germany. Estimated completion will be by December 2026.

Watch: Anti-ship Missile SM-2 in Action . US Navy Missile Launch Compilation | MFA

Nammo Defense Systems won a $498 million contract for the full rate production of M72 Light Assault Weapon variants and components for shoulder-launched munitions training systems. The M72 LAW is a portable, one-shot 66mm unguided anti-tank weapon and was adopted by the US Army and Marine Corps as their primary individual infantry anti-tank weapon in 1963, Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Estimated completion date is December 19, 2026.

The US Navy and Boeing have successfully maneuvered the T1 test asset on an aircraft carrier for the first time – an early step forward in ensuring the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueler will seamlessly integrate into carrier operations. During a demonstration aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Navy flight deck directors used standard hand signals to direct T1 just like any other carrier-based aircraft. Instead of a pilot receiving the commands, however, it was a Boeing MQ-25 Deck Handling Operator (DHO) who commanded the aircraft using a new handheld deck control device.

A military agreement between Qatar and Turkey could see the Gulf state deploying its Rafale fighters to Turkey. Turkey hopes that this will bring opportunities for its pilots to train on the Qatari Rafales. Lawmaker Gülüstan Kiliç Koçyi?it was quoted as saying that the agreement allows Qatar to deploy the Rafale in Turkey.

Egypt’s purchase of 16 new air defense batteries, including 10 IRIS-T SLX air defense batteries with a range of 80 km and a height of 30 km, and six IRIS-T SLS batteries with a range of up to 12 km will give it an ability to guard against drones, rockets, aircraft and short range missiles. Made by Diehl Defense of Germany, the IRIS-T sale was approved by the previous Angela Merkel government. The two air defense systems will provide it with capability similar to the ‘Iron Dome’ system in neighbouring Israel.

Rolls-Royce won an $8.8 million task order for C-130J MissionCare propulsion support. The modification provides for the exercise of option period one for an additional 12 months of performance under the task order. Work will be performed at locations as indicated by task/delivery order, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2024.

Lockheed Martin won a $21.7 million deal for P3-C aircraft mission system hardware, as well as obsolescence studies and technical support to maintain the P3-C mission systems for the government of Taiwan. The P-3C Orion land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft is operational in the airforces of ten countries. Work will take place in New York and Florida. Estimated completion will be by December 2026.

Watch: Qatar Emiri Air Force Rafales joining Turkish exercise