Defense Industry Daily

Americas Raytheon won an $18.7 million modification to exercise options for design agent and engineering support services for the Rolling Airframe Missile. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by March 2028. Federal Republic of Germany funds in the amount of $22,471,090 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. The US Army is conducting tests for the M10 Booker armored infantry support vehicle at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Testing includes firing trials as well as performance and maintainability assessments. Personnel from different US Army divisions are trialing the vehicles on rough terrain, steep slopes, and water obstacles. Operations also evaluate durability and performance in extreme weather conditions. Furthermore, cold-weather testing is underway at Fort Greely in Alaska to assess its capability in sub-zero temperatures. Middle East & Africa A shipment of heavy US-made bombs, specifically MK-84 munitions, arrived in Israel overnight. This delivery coincided with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first visit to the country in his new role. The Israeli Defense Ministry confirmed that the bombs were unloaded at […]

Mk-44 firing RAM (click to view full) The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) MK-31 guided missile weapon system is co-developed and co-produced under a NATO cooperative program between the United States and German governments to provide a small, all-weather, low-cost self-defense system against aircraft and cruise missiles. The RIM-116 was later called RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile), because it spins during flight. To save costs, Designation Systems notes that the RAM was designed to use several existing components, including the rocket motor of the MIM-72 Chaparral, the warhead of the AIM-9 Sidewinder, and the Infrared seeker of the FIM-92 Stinger. Cueing is provided by the ship’s radar, or by its ESM signal tracing suite. RAM is currently installed, or planned for installation, on 78 U.S. Navy and 30 German Navy ships, including American LSD, LHD, LPD and CVN ship types. This number will grow as vessels of the LPD-17 San Antonio Class and Littoral Combat Ships enter the US Navy, and the LCS will sport an upgraded SeaRAM system that will include its own integrated radar and IR sensors. Abroad, the South Korean Navy has adopted RAM for its KDX-II and KDX-III destroyers, and its LPX Dokdo Class amphibious assault ships; other […]

Americas Bell Boeing Joint Project Office in Amarillo, Texas, has been awarded a $23 million contract modification to continue flight test support for the V-22 Osprey aircraft. This modification extends the existing contract to provide ongoing support for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and the government of Japan.The work will be distributed across multiple locations, with the majority of work (70%) performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, followed by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (15%), Fort Worth, Texas (10%), and Hurlburt Field, Florida (5%). The project is expected to be completed in January 2026. Anduril Industries has taken over the development of the US Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) from Microsoft. This transition comes after a series of challenges and delays in the program, which was initially awarded to Microsoft in 2021 with a budget of $21.9 billion.The IVAS program aims to provide soldiers with augmented reality headsets to enhance combat effectiveness, situational awareness, and decision-making on the battlefield Europe The Dutch Ministry of Defense has announced the delivery of 25 YPR armored vehicles to Ukraine. These vehicles are specifically configured for medical evacuation purposes, designed to transport wounded soldiers from the frontlines. This announcement was made by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans […]

Americas Detyens Shipyards Inc., located in North Charleston, South Carolina, has been awarded a $21.1 million fixed-price contract to perform maintenance and dry-docking on the Military Sealift Command’s fleet replenishment oiler, USNS John Lenthall (T-AO 189). The project will last 180 days, starting March 23, 2025, and ending September 18, 2025. The contract includes additional options that could increase its total value to $21.8 million. The funding for this work comes from the Navy’s fiscal year 2025 budget and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was specifically set aside for small businesses, and three proposals were submitted. Military Sealift Command, based in Norfolk, Virginia, is managing the contract. The US Navy is upgrading its mine-hunting tech. Raytheon got $18.3M to build mine-detecting gear for unmanned boats. Textron got $12.1M to build mine-sweeping gear for the same boats. Bollinger Shipyards got $7.7M to improve the boats themselves. These upgrades will help the Navy find and get rid of underwater mines more safely and efficiently. Middle East & Africa The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait of Design and Construction Services and related equipment for […]

Americas Lockheed Martin and Boeing are in a competition to build new military communication satellites for the US Space Force. Both companies have successfully passed early design reviews, allowing them to proceed to the next stage. Lockheed Martin emphasized its use of advanced digital technology and collaboration, creating a reprogrammable payload processor, and its design surpassed expectations. Boeing completed its design review in December 2024, leveraging its existing 702MP satellite platform used by the Space Force. The goal is to expand the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) with two new satellites by 2030, enhancing secure military communications. Momentus has secured a $3.5 million contract from DARPA to support the NOM4D program, which focuses on building large-scale structures in space. The company will use its Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle to demonstrate in-orbit assembly technologies in low-Earth orbit. This mission, scheduled for early 2026, aims to validate the performance of space-optimized structures like antennas and solar arrays, advancing capabilities for future Department of Defense systems. Middle East & Africa A tragic accident has claimed the life of an Air Force of Zimbabwe student pilot during a training mission near Gweru. Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza was killed when his Karakorum-8 (K-8) jet trainer […]

Americas Raytheon received a $52.2 million contract to produce 18 advanced camera systems for military helicopters (MH-60 aircraft) used by Saudi Arabia (1), South Korea (1), Norway (8), Spain (4), and India (4). The majority of the work will be conducted in Texas, with additional parts manufactured in other US states, and is expected to be completed by February 2028. The funding for this project originates from foreign countries through the Foreign Military Sales program, and the US Navy is overseeing the contract. The US Navy is spending money on new tools to find and remove underwater mines. They’re focusing on improving unmanned boats that can be launched from ships or the shore. These boats are designed to find, track, and destroy mines without putting sailors in danger. The Navy has given out several contracts to different companies to make these tools better. They want to make sure their ships, especially the Littoral Combat Ships, have the latest equipment to deal with mines in shallow waters near coastlines.These new tools will help the Navy replace its older mine-hunting ships and helicopters. The goal is to make it safer and more efficient to clear mines from important areas where ships need […]

Americas Canada has opened a rebuilt pier at its Esquimalt naval base in British Columbia. This project cost 1.1 billion Canadian dollars and is part of a larger plan to upgrade the harbor. The new pier will be able to handle the Royal Canadian Navy’s new ships, like the Joint Support Ships and Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessels, which are being built as part of the country’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. This upgrade will allow the base to support these larger, modern vessels. GM Defense has been awarded a $44.8 million contract to provide its Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISV) to the US Army. The exact number of vehicles to be supplied hasn’t been specified, and work locations and funding will be determined as orders are placed. Deliveries are expected to continue through December 2025. This deal will provide the Army with vehicles designed to improve troop mobility, based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform and able to carry nine soldiers. Middle East & Africa The US government has agreed to sell $7.4 billion worth of weapons to Israel. This includes $6.75 billion for bombs and related equipment, and $660 million for Hellfire missiles– The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency says these weapons […]

USN MH-60S test (click to view full) Hellfire I/II missiles are the USA’s preferred aerial anti-armor missile, and are widely deployed with America’s allies. They equip America’s helicopter fleets (AH-64, AH-1, OH-58D, MH-60S/R), AH-64 and S-70 helicopters flown by its allies, and even Australia and France’s Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters. Range is officially listed as 9 km/ 5.6 miles. While Hellfires lack the fast-jet launch capabilities – and correspondingly extended maximum range – of the UK’s MBDA Brimstone missiles, Lockheed Martin’s missile has made big inroads as the world’s high-end helicopter-launched missile. It has also carved out unique niches as tripod-launched coastal defense assets, as the guided missile integrated into American UAVs like the MQ-1 Predator family, and even as a missile option for transport aircraft like the AC-208B Combat Caravan and C-130J/W Hercules. Lockheed Martin’s Hellfires AGM-114K-A warhead (click to view full) Hellfire II missiles comes in several variants. The AGM-114K is the basic Hellfire II missile, with the standard semi-active laser guidance that allows for flexible designation of targets, and flexible missile attack profiles. It uses a shaped-charge HEAT(High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead that can destroy armored vehicles, or punch into buildings. The recently-introduced AGM-114K-A variant adds a blast […]

Americas The US government has given Lockheed Martin a big job worth up to $2.81 billion to improve the THAAD missile defense system. This work will continue for 10 years, from February 2025 to January 2035. The company will upgrade THAAD’s hardware and software, test these improvements, and start putting them into use.Most of this work will happen in Sunnyvale, California, and Dallas, Texas. THAAD is a powerful weapon that can stop different types of incoming missiles. It works by hitting these missiles directly, destroying them before they can reach their targets. This system is important for protecting areas from missile attack. The US Air Force has given BioFlyte, a company from New Mexico, a job to test their new safety device called BioTOF z200. This device is special because it can spot dangerous things in the air that might harm people or buildings. The BioTOF z200 uses smart computer programs to quickly figure out if there are any bad chemicals or germs in the air.. The Air Force wants to see if this device can help keep military bases and soldiers safe from harmful substances that enemies might use.The Air Force is working with BioFlyte through a program that helps small companies […]

Americas The United States Marine Corps is undergoing a significant transformation of its aviation assets, as detailed in the recently released 2025 Marine Aviation Plan. The plan aims to maintain a lethal and responsive Aviation Combat Element (ACE) by transitioning to an all-5th generation tactical aircraft fleet and modernising all other aspects of the ACE. The plan encompasses a wide range of updates across fixed-wing, tiltrotor, rotary-wing, unmanned, and support aircraft, each playing a crucial role in the Corps’ future warfighting capabilities. L3Harris has successfully tested its new Viper Shield system on an F-16 fighter jet for the first time. This test took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California.The Viper Shield is a advanced electronic warfare system that helps protect the F-16 from enemy threats. During the test flight, they checked if the system worked well with the plane’s computer and other equipment. They also made sure the Viper Shield could work together with a new radar called APG-83, which was made by another company, Northrop Grumman, to make the F-16 better.The US Air Force’s 412th Test Wing, which is in charge of testing new aircraft equipment, helped with this first flight. Middle East & Africa Iran has […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $25 million modification to keep working on the AEGIS system for ships. This work includes keeping the system running well, making sure all parts work together, writing instructions and helping people use it. The Navy office in Washington, D.C. that handles ship-related contracts gave them this extra work on January 30, 2025. Lockheed Martin got $383 million to make a new version of the Trident II D5 for the US Navy. This new missile, called D5LE2, is supposed to work until 2084. It will be used on new submarines called Columbia-class, which will replace older Ohio-class submarines. Jerry Mamrol, Lockheed Martin VP, said this upgraded missile will help both the US and UK keep their ability to defend themselves from threats using submarines. The D5LE2 is an improvement on the current Trident II D5 missile, which is already used by both US and UK navies on their submarines. Middle East & Africa The Washington Post has published an investigation revealing that Google has been providing artificial intelligence (AI) tools to Israel’s military. The report highlights the ongoing support from Google’s technology divisions to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel’s Defense Ministry. Records from 2024 […]

Trident II D5 Test Launch (click to view full) Nuclear tipped missiles were first deployed on board US submarines at the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, to deter a Soviet first strike. The deterrence theorists argued that, unlike their land-based cousins, submarine-based nuclear weapons couldn’t be taken out by a surprise first strike, because the submarines were nearly impossible to locate and target. Which meant that Soviet leaders could not hope to destroy all of America’s nuclear weapons before they could be launched against Soviet territory. SLBM/FBM (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile/ Fleet Ballistic Missile) offered shorter ranges and less accuracy than their land-based ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile) counterparts, but the advent of Trident C4 missiles began extending those ranges, and offering other improvements. The C4s were succeeded by larger Trident II D5 missiles, which added precision accuracy and more payload. The year that the Trident II D5 ballistic missile was first deployed, 1990, saw the beginning of the end of the missile’s primary mission. Even as the Soviet Union began to implode, the D5’s performance improvements were making the Trident submarine force the new backbone of the USA’s nuclear deterrent – and of Britain’s as well. To […]

Americas The US Navy is paying BAE Systems $70 million to improve their Mk 45 ship guns. This includes $47 million they agreed to earlier, plus $23.5 million more just added. The improved guns will be able to fire stronger bullets, making them 50% more powerful. BAE will do this work at their factory in Louisville, Kentucky, and finish by the end of 2028. The US Air Force is testing small, 3D-printed parts called microvanes on their big C-17 cargo planes. These microvanes are thin, blade-like pieces about 4 inches wide and 16 inches long. By putting many of these blades on the plane, they change the plane’s aerdynamic profile. This helps the plane fly more smoothly, using 1% less fuel. The Air Force is now in the last stage of checking if these parts work well enough to use on all their C-17 planes. Middle East & Africa The US military recently attacked Islamic State (IS) fighters in Somalia. This was the first time they did this since Donald Trump became president again. Trump ordered the attacks, and the US worked together with Somalia’s government. The US military used planes to bomb IS hideouts in northern Somalia. Trump, in […]

Americas Moog Military Aircraft won a $13 million contract for B-2 flight control actuators. This deal provides for the remanufacturing of the B-2 flight control actuators. The B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is a US military aircraft designed for long-range strategic missions. It’s a revolutionary bomber with several key characteristics:Work will be performed at Elma, New York, and is expected to be completed by November 27, 2027. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. Kay and Associates, a company from Illinois, has been awarded $79.3 million to continue their work in Kuwait. They will keep helping with the maintenance and support of Kuwait’s F/A-18 fighter jets and missile repair facilities. This new deal adds $79,368,571 to their existing contract. The work will be done in Kuwait and should be finished by January 2026. The money for this comes from Foreign Military Sales funds. The US Navy’s aircraft division in Maryland is managing this contract. Middle East & Africa Dassault Aviation, a French company, has shown off the first new F4 Rafale fighter jet for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is a big step in a deal the two countries made […]

All together now… (click to view full) Britain’s practice of “contracting for availability” for key equipment, rather than paying for spare parts and maintenance hours, may be its most significant defense procurement reform. In a world where older air, sea, and ground vehicle fleets are growing maintenance demands beyond countries’ available budgets, it’s an approach whose success could have global significance. Across the pond, the USA is significantly behind in this area. Fortunately, they have not ignored the model entirely. Recent changes to the contracts covering their B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet demonstrate that some progress is being made, via a $9+ billion commitment from 1999-2014, and 2 parallel development programs that are changing key sub-systems. FAST, Revised Keeping it up (click to view full) In the UK the approach of starting at a smaller level, then expanding the scope once performance is proven and trust built, has become standard procedure. That pattern appears to be the case here as well. In January 2007, the U.S. Air Force’s Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center and Northrop Grumman came to a 1-year, $200 million agreement that changed the B-2A’s 1999 FAST maintenance contract. Under the revised terms, original aircraft manufacturer Northrop Grumman […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won an $11 million modification for continued flight testing in support of the F-16 Singapore upgrade program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by January 29, 2027. FMS funds in the amount of $11,162,208 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. Textron Aviation has secured a contract to deliver seven Beechcraft King Air 260 multi-engine aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. The planes will replace the military’s Beechcraft King Air C-90B fleet that has been operating for flight practice since 2005. The new systems will be provided with a night vision-compatible cockpit, engineer monitoring, digital audio system, specialized wing angle, full-face oxygen masks, and observer, emergency, and passenger seats. Middle East & Africa Israeli sighting specialist Smartshooter has unveiled a portable counter-drone system with an assault rifle as the effector. The rifle is controlled through the Smash Dome’s Smash Hopper remote-controlled weapon station. For greater target engagement accuracy, the station uses a ballistically calculated fire control system. Europe The Polish government has signed an agreement […]

Americas Textron Aviation has secured a contract to deliver seven Beechcraft King Air 260 multi-engine aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. The planes will replace the military’s Beechcraft King Air C-90B fleet that has been operating for flight practice since 2005. The new systems will be provided with a night vision-compatible cockpit, engineer monitoring, digital audio system, specialized wing angle, full-face oxygen masks, and observer, emergency, and passenger seats. The Pentagon’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets may not receive the full, combat-ready version of the TR-3 upgrade this year, Lockheed Martin executives acknowledged today. The upgrade, formally called Technology Refresh-3, was originally supposed to be ready in April 2023, but software-development problems have delayed the effort multiple times. Those delays drove the Pentagon to halt acceptance of new F-35s for a year, a pause that ended in July. The upgrade will equip the jets with the extra computing power needed for Block 4 improvements to sensors and weapons. Middle East & Africa Iran has unveiled a massive, heavy-duty drone with a 22-meter wingspan, reportedly capable of flying up to 4,000 kilometers. The Shahed-149, also known as “Gaza” in reference to the war-torn Gaza Strip, was revealed by the Aerospace Force […]

Americas The US Marine Corps’ 3d Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) has executed a successful live-fire exercise of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), conducted at the Pohakuloa Training Area on January 25. This event, marking the first live-fire of MADIS on a Hawaiian island since its introduction in December, underscores a critical step in the Corps’ Force Design modernisation efforts. The MADIS, a mobile, short-range, surface-to-air defence system, is designed to counter a range of aerial threats, particularly the growing menace of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). As a key component of the Marine Corps’ modernisation strategy, MADIS enhances the 3d MLR’s tactical flexibility, extending the airspace it can sense and defend without reliance on other branches of the United States armed forces. Teledyne FLIR has secured a contract worth up to $74.2 million to provide modernized imaging surveillance systems for the US Coast Guard. Under a five-year contract, the company will deliver more than 125 Electro-Optic Sensor System-Modernized (ESS-M) systems for use on Coast Guard rotary-wing aircraft. The system will be integrated into the MH-60 and MH-65 fleets, with delivery scheduled for the end of this year. Middle East & Africa Elbit Systems has secured an $80 million contract with […]

Americas Sikorsky Aircraft won a $64 million order, which provides for updated logistics analysis and products required to support configuration changes on the CH-53K as well as provides for development and delivery of new intermediate and depot component repair capability for the Navy and Marine Corps. Work is expected to be completed in January 2030. Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $64,881,720 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. SkyAlyne and KF Aerospace have procured three De Havilland Dash 8-400 regional airliners for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. Upon arrival, the planes will have their cabins reconfigured and fitted with solutions to be used for Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator and Air Combat Systems Officer courses.  The selection of the locally-built systems was driven by the Dash family of aircraft’s proven performance under the Canadian Air Force, particularly the older Dash 8-100 models, the consortium explained. Middle East & Africa Plasan Sasa, an Israeli manufacturer specializing in survivability solutions for land, air, and naval platforms in the […]

Americas SkyAlyne and KF Aerospace have procured three De Havilland Dash 8-400 regional airliners for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. Upon arrival, the planes will have their cabins reconfigured and fitted with solutions to be used for Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator and Air Combat Systems Officer courses. The selection of the locally-built systems was driven by the Dash family of aircraft’s proven performance under the Canadian Air Force, particularly the older Dash 8-100 models, the consortium explained. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has received a $34.8-million contract to continue its support services for the US Marine Corps’ XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial system development. The deal will extend the company’s assistance to the mission systems and subsystem integrations under the Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer – Portfolio, which is transitioning into the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Unmanned Aerial System Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft program this year. Middle East & Africa Israel’s Ministry of Defense has finalized a procurement agreement with state-owned Rafael for additional Iron Dome interceptors, enhancing the country’s multi-layered air defense capabilities. The funding for the new contract will be sourced from the $8.7 billion US aid package approved for Israel in April 2024. This deal will enable Rafael to ramp […]