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Americas Electra has tested its EL2 ultra-short takeoff and landing (STOL) prototype aircraft for a Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering event focusing on expeditionary capabilities. The three-day, invitation-only field activity saw the system perform live overflights with low acoustic signatures across multiple intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) simulations. The US 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) has received the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) in a ceremony at Dewey Square on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. NMESIS is a mountable, ground-based anti-ship missile launcher that will be operated by the Medium-Range Missile Battery under the 3rd Littoral Combat Team (LCT). Both are components of the 3rd MLR specializing in amphibious and littoral warfare operations in the Indo-Pacific region. Middle East & Africa According to a new report by Technavio, a global technology research and advisory company, the market is estimated to grow at an annual rate of 12.21% during the forecast period. Key market players listed in the report include AeroVironment, BAE Systems, Boeing General Atomics, Leonardo, Northrop Grumman, and others – and also Israel’s three leading defense companies: Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Europe The US State Department has authorized a potential $125 million foreign […]

Americas Elbit Systems of America has scored a major win with the US Air Force, securing an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract with a ceiling of $89 million for replacing outdated Head-Up Displays (HUDs) in the service’s F-16 Block 40/42 fleet. The contract, announced on November 21, calls for the installation of Elbit’s Wide-Angle Conventional Head-Up Display (WACHUD) in place of the existing Diffractive Optic HUDs currently in use. The first delivery order, worth over $57.5 million, was placed in September 2024, with work scheduled to be carried out at Elbit America’s Talladega, Alabama facility and systems expected to be delivered by September 2027. CAE and KF Aerospace’s Ontario-based joint venture SkyAlyne has contracted Grob and Pilatus to deliver 32 training aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Under the project, the service will receive 23 G 120TP systems from Grob and 19 PC-21s from Pilatus, with deliveries to start in 2025 and 2026, respectively. The incoming fleet will be stationed at the Moose Jaw RCAF Base in Saskatchewan, where they will be operated by SkyAlyne as part of Canada’s 25-year Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program to bolster its tactical aerial capabilities in response to emerging threats. Middle East & Africa According […]

Dassault Rafale (click for cutaway view) Will Dassault’s fighter become a fashionably late fighter platform that builds on its parent company’s past successes – or just “the late Rafale”? It all began as a 1985 break-away from the multinational consortium that went on to create EADS’ Eurofighter. The French needed a lighter aircraft that was suitable for carrier use, and were reportedly unwilling to cede design authority over the project. As is so often true of French defense procurement policy, the choice came down to paying additional costs for full independence and exact needs, or losing key industrial capabilities by partnering or buying abroad. France has generally opted for expensive but independent defense choices, and the Rafale was no exception. Those costs, and associated delays triggered by the end of the Cold War and reduced funding, proved to be very costly indeed. Unlike previous French fighters, which relied on exports to lower their costs and keep production lines humming, the Rafale has yet to secure a single export contract – in part because initial versions were hampered by impaired capabilities in key roles. The Rafale may, at last, be ready to be what its vendors say: a true omnirole aircraft, […]

Americas Dynetics has received a $670.5-million contract to build the common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) and thermal protection system for the US Army. A total of $65.8 million has already been allocated from the overall amount to the Leidos subsidiary for fiscal 2024 research, development, testing, and evaluation. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of October 2029. Teledyne FLIR has been selected by Red Cat Holdings to provide advanced thermal imaging cameras for the US Army’s new short-range reconnaissance (SRR) drone. Under the agreement, Teledyne will integrate its Hadron 640R+ longwave infrared camera module into the Black Widow unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the army’s newly-chosen SRR platform. The Hadron camera will enhance the Black Widow’s night-time capabilities with its 640×512 resolution and industry-leading thermal sensitivity. Middle East & Africa The European Council has approved a $13.9 million assistance package for the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) under the European Peace Facility. The funding aims to boost detection and countermeasure systems, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and mobility and engineering equipment. Amid rising regional tensions in the Middle East, the initiative “will contribute to strengthening the capacities of JAF, to increase their ability to ensure Jordan’s stability and national security, […]

Americas Mercury Mission won a $14 million modification, which exercises an option for the production and delivery of 121 high-definition video recorders (109 for the Navy and 12 for Australia), in support of F/A-18C-F and EA-18G aircraft retrofit efforts. Work will be performed in Torrance, California, and is expected to be completed in July 2027. The contract being modified was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin won a $16 million modification, which increases the contract ceiling to provide overrun funding for diminishing manufacturing sources non-recurring engineering and associated materials in support of a redesigned panoramic cockpit display electronic unit video mixer in support of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in January 2029. Middle East & Africa A Syria war monitor on Thursday said clashes between the army and jihadists killed more than 130 combatants in the worst fighting in the country’s northwest in years, as the government also reported fierce battles. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said jihadist group Hayat Tahrir […]

Americas According to Defense Post, L3Harris Technologies has received a $999-million contract to deliver critical radio solutions for the US and allied forces. Under this indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity award, the company will provide Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System Terminals, modern, software-defined communication radio devices compatible with ground, air, and maritime vehicles. The radio applies Link 16 technology, a common tactical data standard found across international militaries, including NATO members, that features a secure and fast exchange of voice, text, and imagery among users. The US Air Force (USAF) has contracted Elbit Systems of America to supply F-16 Block 40/42 Wide-Angle Conventional Head-Up Display (WACHUD) replacements. The up to $89 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract will be executed through  September 2027, with the first delivery order of over $57.5 million having been placed in September. “The Wide-Angle Conventional Head-Up Display replacements provide modernization, but also commonality across the U.S. Air Force’s F-16 fleet,” Elbit America Senior Vice President of Electronic Systems Scott Tumpak said. Middle East & Africa The Israeli Ministry of Defense has approved a major new procurement deal to acquire five new corvettes for the Israeli navy and “hundreds” of new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles for the ground forces. […]

Americas Boeing won a $9 million modification, which provides follow-on integrated logistics and engineering support in support of the Harpoon/Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response Missile System and Harpoon Launch Systems for the Navy and various Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be completed in February 2026. This contract being modified was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. A number of unidentified drones were recently spotted swarming over several Royal Air Force (RAF) bases housing American troops. According to a statement from the US Air Force in Europe on Monday, the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were seen near RAF Lakenheath, Mildenhall, and Feltwell in eastern England between Wednesday and Saturday last week. Middle East & Africa The US military has announced the first official combat use of its F-35C Lightning II fighter aircraft, targeting Houthi positions in Yemen. The fifth-generation aircraft was deployed by the US Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) earlier this month to strike weapons storage facilities, which housed anti-ship missiles used to target military and cargo vessels in the Red Sea Europe BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated “Herne,” an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV) designed for military purposes. The vessel was designed to […]

Harpoon in flight (click to view full) The sub-sonic, wave-skimming GM-84 Harpoon is the US Navy’s sole anti-shipping missile, with the minor exception of small helicopter-borne AGM-119B Penguin missiles. The Harpoon has been adapted into several variants, and exported to many navies around the world. At present, the Harpoon family includes AGM-84 air, RGM-84 sea/land, and UGM-84 submarine-launched versions. Variants such as the Joint Standoff Land Attack Missiles and the upgraded AGM-84K SLAM – Expanded Response will also be covered in this DID FOCUS Article. It describes the missiles themselves, and covers global contracts involving this family. The Harpoon family’s best known competitor is the French/MBDA M38/39/40 Exocet, but recent years have witnessed a growing competitive roster at both the subsonic (Israel’s >Gabriel family, Russia’s SS-N-27 Klub family, Saab’s RBS15, Kongsberg’s stealthy NSM, China’s YJ-82/C-802 used by Hezbollah in Lebanon), and supersonic (Russia’s SS-N-22 Sunburn/Moskit, SS-N-26 Yakhont, and some SS-N-27 Klub variants, India’s SS-N-26 derived PJ-10 BrahMos) tiers. GM-84 Harpoon Family: The Missiles UGM-84 Harpoon launch (click to view full) The sub-sonic, sea-skimming GM-84 Harpoon is the standard anti-shipping missile used by the US Navy, and its variants are in service with 27 navies around the world. Boeing lists its […]

Americas Boeing won a $129.2 million contract for the F-15 Japan Super Interceptor program. This contract provides for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to incorporate engineering change proposals. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; El Segundo, California; and Hunt Valley, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2030. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity. Raytheon won a $185 million delivery order for the repair, upgrade, or replacement of 160 parts in two of the 13 major subsystems of the Aegis Weapon System: the MK99 fire control system, and the Army Navy Joint Electronics Type Designation Systems Water/Surface Ship, Radar, Surveillance and Control Transmitter Group. The contract includes supply response time performance metrics. Work is expected to be completed by December 2026. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Elbit Systems reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024, accumulating a 5.2% increase in its order backlog, to $2.2 billion, a trend in line with other local defense companies supplying weapons for Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah. The Israeli company […]

F-15C over DC (click to view full) “Array of Aging American Aircraft Attracting Attention” discusses the issues that accompany an air force whose fighters have an average age of over 23.5 years – vs. an average of 8.5 years in 1967. One of the most obvious consequences is the potential for fleet groundings due to unforseen structural issues caused by time and fatigue. That very fear is responsible for the #1 priority placed on bringing new KC-X aerial tankers into the fleet to complement the USA’s 1960s-era KC-135 Stratotankers. It can also affect the fighter fleet more directly. Following the crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C aircraft Nov 2/07 (see crash simulation), the US Air Force suspended non-mission critical F-15 flight operations on Nov 3/07. While the cause of that accident is still under investigation, preliminary findings indicate that a structural failure during flight may have been responsible. In response, Japan suspended its own F-15 flights, which left them in a bit of a bind – even as Israel’s F-15s joined them on the tarmac. As the effects continue to spread and the USAF and others continue to comment on this situation, DID continues to expand its coverage […]

Americas General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has finalized the qualification trials of its new 200-horsepower heavy fuel engine (HFE 2.0) for the Gray Eagle 25M unmanned aerial system in El Mirage, California. HFE 2.0 provides a 40 percent increase in the drone’s service life, 50 percent more power to mission payloads,  and longer maintenance-free, low-sustainment capability — all required to meet the user requirements in multi-domain operations. NATO member Romania inked a deal with Washington to buy 32 F-35 jets, an unprecedented expenditure for the country neighboring Ukraine. Romania is the latest to acquire the combat jets, more than two and a half years after Russia invaded Ukraine. With an estimated cost of $6.5 billion approved by Romania’s parliament, it is the most expensive military purchase by the eastern European country. Middle East & Africa Iran said Friday it would launch a series of “new and advanced” centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the UN nuclear watchdog that censures Tehran for what the agency called lack of cooperation. The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany, and the US at the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) follows a similar one in June. Europe The […]

Americas Silent Arrow has clinched a $1.8-million Direct to Phase II SBIR contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to build and test six CLS-200 drones. The CLS-200 is an unmanned aerial system (UAS) known as a Contested Logistics System designed to carry 227 kilograms over 230 miles/370 kilometers. The US Navy has commissioned the 14th Freedom-class littoral combat ship, the USS Nantucket (LCS 27), in Boston, Massachusetts. The event followed the vessel’s acceptance trials in 2022 and delivery in July 2024. Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine began construction in 2017 as part of the US Department of Defense’s objective to modernize its warship fleet. Middle East & Africa European powers and the US have submitted a resolution censuring Iran for its poor cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, diplomats told AFP on Wednesday, as Tehran warned of a “proportionate” response if it passes. As a board meeting by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) kicked off in Vienna, diplomats told AFP that Paris, Berlin, London and Washington formally tabled a censure motion critical of Iran. Europe NATO took control of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS) in Redzikowo, northern Poland, earlier this month. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk used […]

Austal Team Trimaran LCS Design (click to enlarge) Exploit simplicity, numbers, the pace of technology development in electronics and robotics, and fast reconfiguration. That was the US Navy’s idea for the low-end backbone of its future surface combatant fleet. Inspired by successful experiments like Denmark’s Standard Flex ships, the US Navy’s $35+ billion “Littoral Combat Ship” program was intended to create a new generation of affordable surface combatants that could operate in dangerous shallow and near-shore environments, while remaining affordable and capable throughout their lifetimes. It hasn’t worked that way. In practice, the Navy hasn’t been able to reconcile what they wanted with the capabilities needed to perform primary naval missions, or with what could be delivered for the sums available. The LCS program has changed its fundamental acquisition plan 4 times since 2005, and canceled contracts with both competing teams during this period, without escaping any of its fundamental issues. Now, the program looks set to end early. This public-access FOCUS article offer a wealth of research material, alongside looks at the LCS program’s designs, industry teams procurement plans, military controversies, budgets and contracts. LCS: Concept & Needs LCS-I missions (click to view full) Ultimately, the US Navy is […]

Americas The US Department of Defense has signed an agreement with Australia and the UK to collaborate on “offensive and defensive” hypersonic technologies. The partnership aims to accelerate the development, testing, and evaluation of cutting-edge hypersonic vehicles and technologies, including long-range missiles capable of traveling considerably faster than the speed of sound. Northrop Grumman has delivered its Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) test missile to the US Air Force, which is designed to target rapidly relocatable threats. The test missile will be used to verify the safe carriage and separation of the weapon from its launch aircraft. In 2023, the US Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $705-million contract to supply the new SiAW for its F-35 combat jet fleet. Middle East & Africa Last month, representatives of the member states of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) gathered in Washington for the fourth time to strengthen their commitment to collective resilience against attacks, promote operational and strategic cooperation, and develop capabilities. Led by the White House, the initiative has significantly expanded over the past two years, growing from 35 member states and organizations in 2022 to 68 today. During the Washington summit, the heads of the UAE and Israeli cyber agencies called on […]

Americas The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $202-million contract to provide modernization and maintenance services for two US Navy guided-missile destroyers. Work will be performed on the USS Laboon (DDG 58) under a $114-million Docking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) contract, while the USS Wasp (LHD 1) will receive services outlined under a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) contract. Lockheed Martin has started construction of the US Navy’s first E-130J production aircraft under its Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) program. The E-130J is based on the company’s C-130J-30 Super Hercules military transport plane and will replace the service’s older TACAMO system, the E-6B Mercury, once completed. The new aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2026, with two more to follow in the coming years. Middle East & Africa The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Greece of F-16 Engine Follow-On Support and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $160 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. Greece’s latest request also includes non-major defence equipment items such as engine components, ground handling equipment, modifications, spare parts, […]

Americas Bell Textron has selected Integris Composites to supply armor systems for the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. Integris highlighted that its contribution will focus on enhancing the upcoming rotorcraft’s durability, speed, range, and payload capabilities. The new aircraft will contribute to “our nation’s warfighters have the decisive edge in any theater where they are operating,” Integris Composites President Andrew Bonham. The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to expand production capacity for the Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 (PAC-3) missile to 650 units annually. Lockheed emphasized that this initiative is a crucial step in meeting the growing global demand for “the world’s most advanced missile.” This year, missile production increased by 30 percent, with projections indicating a further 20 percent rise next year. Middle East & Africa Elbit Systems announced that it has secured contracts worth approximately $335 million to supply defense systems to a European country. The contracts, to be executed over three and a half years, include advanced PULS™? rocket launchers and accompanying missiles, as well as Hermes™? 900 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) equipped with advanced payloads. Elbit’s PULS™? launchers offer versatile and advanced operational capabilities, enabling the launch of unguided rockets, precision-guided […]

DID's FOCUS Article covering the Patriot anti-air missile system, including all development & contracts during the FY 2007 time frame...

Americas The 56th Air Refueling Squadron has unveiled the world’s first KC-46 Pegasus demonstration team at the Wings and Warriors Fly-In in San Marcos, Texas, on November 9. This debut performance marked a major milestone for the KC-46, highlighting its advanced capabilities and the crucial role it plays in modern air operations. The demonstration team, composed of pilots, boom operators, and maintenance personnel, showcased the KC-46’s impressive performance and versatility. Spectators were treated to a thrilling display as the aircraft executed a high-speed pass with its refuelling boom extended at 500 feet, followed by a low-speed pass with its landing gear and flaps deployed. These manoeuvres effectively illustrated the aircraft’s agility and precision, crucial attributes for a tanker operating in challenging environments. AeroVironment is set to enhance its flagship Puma unmanned aerial system (UAS), equipping it with new software designed to improve reliability in contested and denied airspace. In an announcement Thursday, the company said its Puma 3 AE and Puma LE drones will receive the software upgrade to elevate their battlefield effectiveness in electromagnetic environments. Middle East & Africa The United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence have taken delivery of an additional A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from […]

Italian Eurofighters (click to view full) The multi-national Eurofighter Typhoon has been described as the aerodynamic apotheosis of lessons learned from the twin engine “teen series” fighters that began with the F-14 and F-15, continued with the emergence of the F/A-18 Hornet, and extended through to the most recent F/A-18 Super Hornet variants. Aerodynamically, it’s a half generation ahead of all of these examples, and planned evolutions will place the Eurofighter near or beyond parity in electronic systems and weapons. The 1998 production agreement among its 4 member countries involved 620 aircraft, built with progressively improved capabilities over 3 contract “tranches”. By the end of Tranche 2, however, welfare state programs and debt burdens had made it difficult to afford the 236 fighters remaining in the 4-nation Eurofighter agreement. A 2009 compromise was found in the EUR 9 billion “Tranche 3A” buy, and the program has renewed its efforts to secure serious export sales. Their success will affect the platform’s production line in the near term, and its modernization plans beyond that. Eurofighter: Design & Evolution Eurofighter, Spain (click to view full) The Eurofighter program emerged out of a long and conflicting set of multinational efforts to design a new […]

Americas Swedish defense contractor Saab has made an offer for the sale of its JAS 39 Gripen light supersonic aircraft to the Republic of Colombia. The potential contract of an undisclosed number of Gripens with Bogotá was first revealed unofficially by Swedish public news agency Sveriges Radio, according to a report by Reuters. In a recent interview, Saab CEO Micael Johansson confirmed this, saying that the Stockholm-based company committed to a “full-fledged” proposal to the Latin American country. The US Army has awarded Florida-based Repkon a $435-million contract to develop and commission a TNT factory in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. TNT is used for ammunition and explosives in the military, including the commonly used 155-millimeter artillery shells.  The announcement was made by Senator Mitch McConnell, who noted that the future center to be established at Muhlenberg County will be America’s first local TNT source since the 1980s. Middle East & Africa Israeli Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has secured a contract to provide its “Digital Shark” naval electronic countermeasure (ECM) system for an unnamed NATO country. Digital Shark is designed to act instantaneously and autonomously as it deceives and suppresses various threats from different directions simultaneously. It is equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array transmitters and multiple Digital Radio Frequency Memory channels for […]