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Americas Northrup Grumman won a $387 million modification to provide continued research and development of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Cockpit Technical Refresh cockpit redesign and Theater Combat Identification to replace the current E-2D integrated navigation and controls and display systems and tactical mission computer and display systems for the Navy. Work is expected to be completed in September 2028. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,940,911 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has received a new C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft delivered by Embraer at Galeão Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro. The delivery is the seventh C-390 tactical transport aircraft for the Brazilian First Squadron of the First Transport Group, marking five years that Embraer has served the FAB. “The C-390 Millennium has demonstrated operational qualities, reliability, and versatility, performing the most demanding missions anytime, anywhere, with the Brazilian Air Force,” stated Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer. Middle East & Africa Boeing won a $600 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity deal for Joint […]

Americas Raytheon won a $14 million modification for the continued design, integration, test, and delivery of Joint Multiple Effects Warhead System to be installed into the Recertified Tomahawk All-Up-Round in support of the Navy. Work is expected to be completed in August 2025. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Canada is advancing its program to construct new conventionally-powered submarines, issuing a request for information from industry stakeholders to assess their capability and capacity to build and deliver up to 12 submarines. Public Services and Procurement Canada issued the request “to gain further information on the availability of submarines that are currently in service or in production.” Middle East & Africa The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Iraq, providing follow-on technical support for the maintenance and repair of naval vessels. Valued at approximately $65 million, the sale is part of a broader initiative to assist the Iraqi Navy in maintaining its fleet, which includes offshore vessels, patrol boats, and defender-class boats originally supplied by the United States. The potential FMS contract calls for the deployment of approximately 65 contractor representatives from various nationalities to Iraq to support the VMR program. Europe […]

Americas Illinois-based aviation service provider AAR has received a $1.2-billion contract to perform maintenance for the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft fleet. The agreement stipulates depot-level engine and airframe sustainment as well as on-site assessments to maintain the planes’ operability. Tasks will incorporate technical directives, modifications, overhauls, and aircraft-on-ground support, scheduled and unscheduled. Work for the engine will be facilitated in partnership with Georgia-based aviation industry partner Delta TechOps. The Montana Air National Guard (MT ANG) conducted a groundbreaking training exercise on September 25. The exercise involved landing a C-130 Hercules aircraft on a stretch of US Highway 87 between Great Falls and Belt, marking the first time the MT ANG has performed such a maneuver with this aircraft type. Col. Jason Green, Mission Support Group commander for the 120th Airlift Wing, emphasized the strategic importance of the exercise: “We are working on skills we need to be able to engage with the next peer that we have, which is China. We’re proving that we could [land our aircraft] in remote places.” Middle East & Africa Air strikes and shelling rocked Khartoum on Thursday as the army attacked paramilitary positions throughout the Sudanese capital, eyewitnesses and a […]

Americas Rockwell Collins won a $52 million contract for maintenance and overhaul of UH-60 Black Hawk components. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of September 24, 2029. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. The US Air Force has unveiled a cutting-edge mobile application designed to streamline airfield assessments for aircraft operations in austere environments. Developed by the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing Innovation Team at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, this new tool promises to enhance the speed and accuracy of determining whether an airfield can safely accommodate aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules or C-17 Globemaster III. The innovation marks a significant step forward for agile combat employment. Middle East & Africa Israel has secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support its ongoing military efforts and to maintain a qualitative military edge in the region, the Defense Ministry announces in a statement. The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been received and earmarked for critical military purchases, and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems including the Iron […]

US Army HH-60Ms (click to view full) In July 2012, the US military signed another huge contract with Sikorsky. With production of the Army’s HH/UH-60M, and the Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters, all in full swing, there’s no question about the need for future orders. In that environment, multi-year contracts allow efficiencies in purchasing, and security of staffing, throughout Sikorsky’s supply chain. These new helicopter types are also available to Foreign Military Sales class customers, under the American contract’s advantageous pricing and terms. The UH-60M, MH-60S and MH-60R models have already inked export deals, and official requests indicate that more deals are in the pipeline. The new multi-year 2013-2017 contract could be worth up to $11.7 billion, and follows a 5-year, multi-service “MYP-VII” contract in December 2007. Like its predecessor, it covers UH-60M Black Hawk troop transport and light cargo helicopters, Army HH-60M SAR (Search And Rescue) / MEDEVAC (MEDical EVACuation) helicopters, and the US Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. MYP-VIII: Contract in Context USN Heli Plan (click to view full) The US Army plans to order 956 UH-60M and 419 MEDEVAC HH-60M Black Hawks through 2026, a total of 1,375 H-60M models. By then, the US Army’s total […]

Americas Sikorsky Aircraft won a $35 million delivery order for the procurement of 57 actuator assemblies, 50 shut-off valves, six isolation valves, 57 pressure switches, seven thermal resistors, 28 prime pumps, 29 forward fairings, 13 aircraft skins, 15 fairings, 14 deicer boots, 10 bypass doors, 45 engines, 15 electrical harnesses, 10 center units, eight lowers, five exhaust blowers, six flow control valves, 50 mechanical actuators, 95 spring holders, eight centrifugal fans, and 28 particle separators in support of the CH-53K aircrafts. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Raytheon won a $20 million delivery order, which order provides engineering, management, technical, and acquisition support for the development of software corrections to address the capability defect packages for the V-22 avionics and flight control systems. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by December 2026. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Europe The Netherlands plans to buy two support vessels that will act as sidekicks to its air-defense frigates, packing additional missiles to defeat swarms of anti-ship missiles and drones, for an investment in the […]

Americas GE Aviation Systems won a $63 million deal for KC-135 aircraft integrated data acquisition recorder systems. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 60 years. This unique asset enhances the Air Force’s capability to accomplish its primary mission of global reach. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. The KC-135 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations. The United States is sending a “small number” of additional troops to the Middle East in response to rising tensions in the region, the Pentagon said Monday, giving few further details. The announcement comes as fears of a broader regional war grow, with Israel striking hundreds of targets in Lebanon in what is by far the deadliest cross-border escalation in nearly a year of violence between Israel and Hezbollah. Middle East & Africa Israeli air strikes on Lebanon killed nearly 500 people on Monday, including 35 children, the health ministry said, marking the deadliest day […]

Americas Sikorsky won a $72 million delivery order for the procurement of 98 rotary blades in support of the CH-53 K aircrafts. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut. Work is expected to be completed by December 2028. This announcement involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) from Israel. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman has announced a significant stride in the flight-testing and production of the US Air Force’s futuristic B-21 Raider. Since its unveiling in December 2022, the company reports that the stealth bomber now undergoes up to two test flights per week, demonstrating its commitment to making the warplane operational as soon as possible. Northrop also currently possesses three Raiders in various configurations, of which two are for ground testing and one for flight trials. Middle East & Africa US Africa Command confirmed that a small contingent of American personnel remains in Chad, supporting counterterrorism missions.The United States has resumed discussions regarding its military presence in Chad, reflecting a broader trend of African nations reassessing their security relationships with the US In recent weeks, senior officials from the State and Defense departments […]

RAAF C-130J-30, flares (click to view full) The C-130 Hercules remains one of the longest-running aerospace manufacturing programs of all time. Since 1956, over 40 models and variants have served as the tactical airlift backbone for over 50 nations. The C-130J looks similar, but the number of changes almost makes it a new aircraft. Those changes also created issues; the program has been the focus of a great deal of controversy in America – and even of a full program restructuring in 2006. Some early concerns from critics were put to rest when the C-130J demonstrated in-theater performance on the front lines that was a major improvement over its C-130E/H predecessors. A valid follow-on question might be: does it break the bottleneck limitations that have hobbled a number of multi-billion dollar US Army vehicle development programs? C-130J customers now include Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, India, Israel, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Tunisia, and the United States. American C-130J purchases are taking place under both annual budgets and supplemental wartime funding, in order to replace tactical transport and special forces fleets that are flying old aircraft and in dire need of major repairs. This DID FOCUS […]

Americas Rockwell Collin won a $46 million modification to provide expanded risk reduction non-recurring engineering efforts to further address size, weight, and power-cooling of the airborne very low frequency (VLF) design considerations for the integration of the VLF transmit system into a C-130 aircraft. Work will take place in Richardson, Texas, and is expected to be completed in September 2026. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin won a $30 million deal to procure AEGIS Linear Processing Systems in support of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (80%); and Clearwater, Florida (20%), and is expected to be completed by June 2027. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The Israeli military says about 150 rockets, missiles and other projectiles have been fired at its territory overnight and on Sunday. It says most of the strikes were launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon. They reached further into Israel than before, including close to the port city of Haifa, where at least three people were wounded. The Israeli army also said projectiles launched from Iraq had been brought down. Hundreds of thousands of people […]

Americas Systems Planning and Analysis won a $13 million modification to provide support services for the Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Strategic Weapons System. Tasks to be performed include technical services, program support services, assessments, special studies, and systems engineering services. Work is expected to be completed September 30, 2025. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. The US Air Force’s B-21 Raider program is gaining momentum, with significant progress reported during the Air and Space Force Association’s recent conference. Air Force leaders and industry partners provided key updates on the development of this advanced stealth bomber. Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems President Thomas Jones reported a marked increase in flight test frequency. “We’re really starting to strike up quite a cadence [and] generate two flight test flights in a given week,” Jones stated. This acceleration aligns with the program’s goal of creating a “daily flyer,” demonstrating the B-21’s development progress and the team’s commitment to rigorous testing. Middle East & Africa At least 20 people were killed and over 300 wounded Wednesday when walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon, the government said, a day after pagers used by Hezbollah blew up, killing 12 and wounding up to 2,800. The Iran-backed […]

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 Sikorsky won a $13 million deal for the procurement of nine input module gearboxes in support of the CH-53K aircrafts. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut. This contract contains no options, and work is expected to be completed by December 2028. This announcement involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) from Israel. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace is building a new missile production facility in the US to cater to rising global demand amid conflicts in Eastern Europe and West Asia. The state-of-the-art facility in James City County, Virginia, will enhance the Norwegian firm’s production capability for Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM). More importantly, it will bring the capability to the US, including sustainment and tech refresh capabilities for the missiles. “Kongsberg is investing in a big way in the US market by making Virginia the US home of our new missile factory, which will entail hiring more than 180 people,” president and general manager of Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace Heather Armentrout said. Middle East & Africa A US MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed near Yemen, the Pentagon said Tuesday, after Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed to […]

Americas Northrop Grumman Systems won a $18 million modification, which adds scope to provide continued engineering, logistics, support equipment, obsolescence, software, hardware, trade studies, incidental material, impact assessment, risk and program analysis activities support in support of production cut in integration to implement, analyze and evaluate the life cycle software and hardware updates encompassing a broad spectrum of software and/or hardware engineering, design, programming, integration, manufacturing and quality, and test activities with varying levels and periods of intensity for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the Navy. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. CIRCOR Pumps North America LLC, Monroe won a $17 million contract for the procurement of 22 Virginia-class ship service hydraulic pumps. This is a stand-alone contract with no options. All work will be performed in Monroe, North Carolina, and is expected to be completed by April 2030. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Hundreds of handheld pagers exploded near simultaneously across Lebanon and in parts of Syria on Tuesday, Lebanon’s health minister says eight were killed and some 2,800 were wounded, including 200 seriously. Hezbollah has said that two members are […]

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $14.4 million modification, which exercises an option to provide additional lab support labor and material to continue lab support of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter laboratory facilities at Edwards Air Force Base, California; Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland; and Fort Worth, Texas, in support of the Air Force, Navy, and F-35 cooperative program partners. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. The F-15EX made its debut public appearance at the Oregon International Air Show (OIA). The advanced fighter jet, operated by the 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard, wowed the crowds with flyovers. The F-15EX, a significant upgrade from its predecessor the F-15C, boasts a range of technological advancements. Equipped with advanced sensors, computers, flight controls, and enhanced power, the EX represents a generational leap in fighter aircraft capabilities. Its “digital backbone” is designed to facilitate rapid integration of new technologies, ensuring the aircraft remains at the forefront of airpower. Middle East & Africa The US has approved $165 million in weapons sales to Israel to fund heavy-duty tank trailers, the State Department announced Thursday. The systems include spare and repair parts, tool kits and technical and logistics support. […]

Americas AAR Government Services won a $1.2 billion deal, which provides P-8A Poseidon aircraft depot scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, fulfillment of depot in-service repair/planner and estimator requirements, technical directive incorporation, airframe modifications, and in-field maintenance support for the Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, and Foreign Military Sales customers. These contracts were competitively procured via an electronic request for proposal; three offers were received. Naval Air System Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky Aircraft won an $18 million delivery order for the procurement of 40 blade rotary rudders in support of the CH-53K aircrafts. All work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut. This contract contains no options, and work is expected to be completed by December 2028. Annual working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $9,262,844 will be obligated at the time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Europe Ukraine has introduced an advanced Information Technology (IT) system designed to streamline […]

Americas According to Defense Post, the US Navy has awarded California-based Fuse Integration a contract to produce router systems for the service’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye tactical airborne early warning and control aircraft. The $16-million deal orders the company’s proprietary CORE 4.0 devices, which will upgrade the E-2D’s external networking systems into software-based connectivity. The equipment will employ a tactical edge network targeting a contested long-range environment or TENTaCLE architecture to bolster the aircraft’s network resiliency, according to the navy. The US Army has awarded Elbit Systems a $28-million contract for additional AN/PVS-14 monocular night vision devices. A helmet-mounted device, the AN/PVS-14 allows soldiers to move rapidly at night without the need for multiple specialized equipment. It incorporates high-magnification lenses and an infrared illuminator for capturing clear images in low-light conditions. Europe The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is facing an unprecedented challenge as its legendary Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes remain grounded four months after a tragic accident. The extended suspension of flights has raised questions about the future of these iconic World War II aircraft in RAF service. On May 2024, a Spitfire crash claimed the life of Squadron Leader Mark Long, prompting the RAF to […]

Americas Canopy Aerospace has clinched a $2.8 million US Air Force funding to develop a more resilient hypersonic thermal protection system (TPS) based on transpiration-cooling. An integrated TPS shields hypersonic platforms from extreme heat at over Mach 5, with temperatures reaching 3,000 degrees Celsius. The Canopy system works on the same cooling principle as sweating or how plants cool themselves through evaporation. According to Breaking Defense, the US Army is testing out a slew of drones in an effort to help decide just what the future force needs and pave a path towards acquiring it, according to a pair of one-star generals. The aviation-focused Experimental Gateway Demonstration Event (EDGE) 2024 kicked off Monday and is expected to run for over two weeks. While details about exactly what tech is being tested this year remains under wraps, the event is focused on examining launched effects and unmanned aerial vehicles. Can they work together? Hold up against electronic warfare jammers? Middle East & Africa According to Defense Post, Turkey has finalized key plans for its Çelik Kubbe – Steel Dome – air defense system, a project designed to enhance the nation’s airspace security with advanced, multilayered defense capabilities. The decision came during […]

Americas The US Army has awarded Elbit Systems a $28-million contract for additional AN/PVS-14 monocular night vision devices. A helmet-mounted device, the AN/PVS-14 reportedly allows soldiers to move rapidly at night without the need for multiple specialized equipment. It incorporates high-magnification lenses and an infrared illuminator for capturing clear images in low-light conditions. The US Department of Defense has awarded Battelle a $53-million contract to develop a nerve agent countermeasure solution for soldiers. For the initiative, the firm will create a Reactivating Nerve Agent Treatment System (RNATS) to “enhance the current standard of care” for troops and increase their survivability in chemical warfare. Battelle’s Ohio-based subsidiary CMC Pharmaceuticals will lead the technology’s laboratory production, Good Manufacturing Practice testing, and Contract Manufacturing Organization oversight. Middle East & Africa Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed early Sunday they shot down another American-made MQ-9 drone flying over the country, marking potentially the latest downing of the multimillion-dollar surveillance aircraft. The U.S. launched airstrikes over Houthi-controlled territory afterward, the rebels said. The US military told The Associated Press it was aware of the claim but has “received no reports” of American military drones being downed over Yemen. Europe Sweden has unveiled a comprehensive military support package that includes […]

South African JAS-39D (click to view full) As a neutral country with a long history of providing for its own defense against all comers, Sweden also has a long tradition of building excellent high-performance fighters with a distinctive look. From the long-serving Saab-35 Draken (“Dragon,” 1955-2005) to the Mach 2, canard-winged Saab-37 Viggen (“Thunderbolt,” 1971-2005), Swedish fighters have stressed short-field launch from dispersed/improvised air fields, world-class performance, and leading-edge design. This record of consistent project success is nothing short of amazing, especially for a country whose population over this period has ranged from 7-9 million people. This is DID’s FOCUS Article for background, news, and contract awards related to the JAS-39 Gripen (“Griffon”), a canard-winged successor to the Viggen and one of the world’s first 4+ generation fighters. Gripen remains the only lightweight 4+ generation fighter type in service, its performance and operational economics are both world-class, and it has become one of the most recognized fighter aircraft on the planet. Unfortunately for its builders, that recognition has come from its appearance in Saab and Volvo TV commercials, rather than from hoped-for levels of military export success. With its 4+ generation competitors clustered in the $60-120+ million range vs. the […]