UNITED KINGDOM
AIR
29 Oct 18. Inzpire Limited has won a contract to provide 3 Requirements Managers to the UK Lightning F-35 programme. The contract will see personnel from Inzpire’s Integrated Sensors and Systems Division working alongside uniformed Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Requirements Managers to provide technical subject matter expertise (SME) input. Inzpire’s SMEs will provide expertise in a range of areas within the Lightning programme, including fielded and future weapons development as well as developing and managing future test and acceptance activity.
EUROPE
LAND
31 Oct 18. EDA, Thales sign network services contract. The European Defence Agency (EDA) has signed a contract with Thales Six GTS France for the provision of secure network and communication services to the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) and the European Union’s training missions (EUTM) in Mali. The contract, worth up to €6m, will run until the end of 2021. It includes several options which, if exercised, will also extend the services to the EUTMs in the Central African Republic and Somalia. Under the contract, Thales Six GTS France will provide network and communication services for both unclassified and EU Classified Information (EUCI). Services provided include a secure WAN with LANs, work stations, printers, VoIP phones, VTC and encrypted mobile phones for EUCI communication, SMART phone communication application, cyber defence services, technical support, training, accreditation support and transportation. The work will support the reactivity of the MPCC by speeding up the flow of information not only between the MPCC and missions, but also between missions. (Source: Shephard)
01 Nov 18. The Romanian government has signed an agreement with the U.S. Army and transferred funding to the US government for the purchase of three additional Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) Patriot® Air and Missile Defense Systems from the U.S. Army. As was the case with the first system, which came under contract in May, the additional units were procured via the U.S. Department of Defense’s foreign military sales process. Patriot is a purely defensive system that is the backbone of NATO’s defense against lower tier ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, advanced aircraft and drones. Fifteen other nations depend on Patriot to protect their citizens and armed forces, including the U.S. and six other European nations: Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland and Sweden. All of Romania’s Patriot fire units will be newly built. And although it shares the same name and external appearance as the Patriot system that defended NATO during the Cold War, the system has been completely modernized. Romania’s procurement of Patriot is an important element of the country’s commitment to NATO to spend at least 2% of its Gross Domestic Product on defense. This most recent agreement marks the fulfillment of the Romanian Air Force’s plan to purchase four fire units. It also keeps the Romanian armed forces on track to acquire the seven systems Romanian senior leaders have stated they intend to obtain. The agreement between Romania and the U.S. Army sets the stage for the U.S. government to begin contract negotiations with Raytheon.
SEA
01 Nov 18. Leonardo to Equip the New German Corvettes 130 With OTO 76/62 Super Rapid. With this contract, Leonardo’s OTO 76/62 Super Rapid becomes the reference defence system for the German Navy. Leonardo signed a contract with the Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr, the German Federal Office in charge of defence acquisitions, to provide seven OTO 76/62 Super Rapid systems that will equip the new K130 corvettes of the German Navy. The contract also includes training and spare parts supply. With this new acquisition, Leonardo’s naval gun becomes the reference defence system for the German Navy, which has already tested the capabilities of the compact version of the system, integrated on the first batch of corvettes following a previous contract. The signing of the contract strengthens the historical collaboration with the country and with the Agency. Leonardo has indeed provided the first naval artillery systems, in particular the 76/62 Compact, starting from the 70s; the most recent supplies include the 127/64 Vulcano naval guns and the Hitrole 12.7 turrets currently on board the F125 Frigate. (Source: ASD Network)
31 Oct 18. The Irish Naval Service has awarded a contract to marine architecture consultancy Tymor Marine to support the vessel mid-life overhaul programme. Headquartered in Aberdeen, Tymor will provide the Irish Navy with a mid-life extension survey for the P50-class vessel. Under the agreement, the company will examine the navy vessels to evaluate the condition of their structure, systems, equipment and machinery. It will also provide the navy with a complete analysis and report comprising independent recommendations for integrity maintenance and vessel overhaul. (Source: naval-technology.com)
AIR
01 Nov 18. Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT and TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that it was awarded a framework contract to provide maritime Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) patrol services to be provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to countries in the European Union. The contract that will be executed in cooperation with CEiiA is for a two-year base period and two single year option periods. If fully ordered, the total contract value is €59m (approximately $68m). Under the contract and in cooperation with CEiiA, a leading engineering company in Portugal, Elbit Systems will lease and operate its HermesTM 900 Maritime Patrol and its Ground Control Station. A persistent long-range unmanned maritime surveillance system tailored for littoral and blue water operations, the Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol will feature maritime radar, an Electro Optic payload, Satellite Communication and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver. Thus configured, the Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol will enable persistent monitoring of vast swathes of sea and long coastlines and effective identification of suspicious activities and potential hazards.
29 Oct 18. Belgium’s Council of Ministers on 25 October confirmed selection of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian as its first medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (UAS). Defence Minister Steven Vandeput said that 80%, or more than EUR7bn (USD8bn), of the investment programmes identified in Belgium’s June 2016 ‘Strategic Vision for Defence’ had now been launched or completed. He identified the new combat aircraft as “one of the most important investments of the strategic vision”, adding, “we want to be a reliable partner supporting the EU, UN, and NATO.” Belgium plans to procure two RQ-9B MALE UASs. (Source: UAS VISION)
USA
LAND
29 Oct 18. AM General receives order for 740 HMMWVs. AM General has received an order to provide 740 new M1152 A1 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) to the US Army National Guard as a part of modernisation efforts. The M1152 A1 is a single cab with open cargo area HMMWV variant that is enhanced with integrated armour protection and can serve as a troop or cargo transport vehicle. Delivery of the new M1152A1 HMMWVs will begin in the second quarter of 2019. This new order follows a recently awarded five-year contract worth $121m for systems technical support (STS) services for the family of HMMWVs. The STS services contract will support government task orders for engineering, logistics and quality assurance projects. Through the contract, the company will develop and/or integrate new capabilities into the existing US Army HMMWV fleet. The efforts include integrating C3 subsystems to support units such as Infantry Brigade Combat Teams and Security Force Assistance Brigades. (Source: Shephard)
01 Nov 18. The U.S. Army awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $191m contract for Ku-band radio frequency radars. KuRFS, an advanced electronically scanned array system, fills an immediate U.S. Army operational need for a counter-unmanned aerial vehicle radar. Already deployed, KuRFS delivers precision fire control as well as “sense and warn” capability for multiple missions including detection of rocket, artillery, mortar and swarming UAS threats. KuRFS enables defense against multiple threat types through integration with the Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System, 50-caliber guns and 30 mm cannons. The radar also supports high-energy laser and the Coyote weapon system in both a ground mounted or vehicle mounted configuration.
29 Oct 18. U.S. Marine Corps awards Rheinmetall production order for MK281 MOD3 40mm practice ammunition. The United States Marine Corps has just contracted with Rheinmetall to produce and deliver 40mm practice ammunition. The ammunition, specifically the 40mm x 53 MK281 MOD3 High Velocity Practice Day/Night Marking Cartridge, will be produced in Camden, Arkansas and shipped from American Rheinmetall Munitions (ARM), a Rheinmetall subsidiary based in Stafford, Virginia. Total order volume amounts to US$59m (€51m). Now booked, the initial order volume is worth US$25m (€21.7m). Production will commence no later than the third quarter of 2019; annual delivery volume is expected to be as high as 700,000 cartridges. Rheinmetall‘s MK281 is a non-dud producing, non-toxic training cartridge fired from a MK19 machinegun. The cartridges use unique target marking technologies that enable both day and night training. The MK281 design reduces customer costs by eliminating unexploded ordnance and range fires. Furthermore, it permits users to practice fire-and-manoeuvre operations in a safe, dud-free environment.
ARM has been producing and supplying first-class, high-performance practice and service ammunition for American military and law enforcement customers for over a decade.
31 Oct 18. US Army orders AN/TPQ-50 radar systems. SRC has received a $26m contract to deliver AN/TPQ-50 radar systems to the US Army for air surveillance and counterfire target acquisition. The AN/TPQ-50 is a Lightweight Counter-Mortar Radar (LCMR) and a US Army Program of Record. It provides early warning for indirect fire and counterfire target acquisition. The system provides continuous, 360° notification of incoming fire from mortars, rockets and other small projectiles. The radar has a track-while-scan capability allowing for the simultaneous detection and tracking of multiple threats fired from separate locations. Once a threat is detected, the radar sends an early warning message indicating that a round is incoming. After sufficient data is collected to enable an accurate point of origin, the weapon’s location is reported back for a counterfire response from any integrated system. (Source: Shephard)
AIR
30 Oct 18. AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Maryland, has been awarded a $23,696,816 firm-fixed-price contract fornon-developmental contractor-owned and contractor-operated unmanned aerial systems, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance. This contract provides support force protection efforts at airfields located within U.S. Air Forces Central Command. Work will be performed at Bagram Airfield and Kandahar AF, Afghanistan, with an optional site at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan, and is expected to be completed by March 27, 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $17,556 are being obligated at the time of award. Total cumulative face value of this contract is $114,064,396. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-19-C-0002). (Source: UAS VISION)
01 Nov 18. Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $42,835,847 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification under delivery order H92241-18-F-0022-P00002 for four new build MH-47G rotary wing aircrafts. The contract modification satisfies an urgent need to sustain U.S. Special Operations Forces heavy assault, rotary wing aircrafts. The contract modification is funded with fiscal 2018 procurement; and aircraft procurement, Army funds. The majority of the work will be performed in Ridley Park. This contract modification is a non-competitive award and is in accordance with Fair Acquisition Regulation 6.302.1. U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, is the contracting activity.
31 Oct 18. DRS Network & Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, is being awarded an $18,906,754 modification (P00010) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-16-C-0015) for the procurement of 121 distributed aperture infrared countermeasure sensors and 30 processors for the Navy for MH-60, AH-1Z, and UH-1Y aircraft. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas, and is expected to be completed in February 2021. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $18,906,754 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
26 Oct 18. The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a $35.1m, 20-month contract to demonstrate existing technologies for the low-band frequency jammer, the second increment of the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) program. Northrop Grumman has been the Navy’s airborne electronic attack integrator for more than 50 years. In addition to its work on NGJ Low Band (NGJ-LB), the company continues to support the fleet with advanced electronic attack capabilities. The NGJ system will augment, and ultimately replace the EA-18G Growler aircraft’s aging ALQ-99 tactical jammer with advanced airborne electronic attack capabilities for defeating increasingly advanced and capable threats. Developed in three frequency-focused increments – high-band, mid-band and low-band – NGJ will be capable of jamming multiple radar signals at the same time, including surveillance and air-defense radars. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) selected Northrop Grumman for the NGJ-LB Demonstration of Existing Technology phase. The contract was awarded Oct. 25. Northrop Grumman’s offer was selected based on technical merit and potential maturity for accomplishing the low-band mission. The company’s solution also provides rapid operational capability to the fleet. Work primarily will be performed in Linthicum, Maryland, and Bethpage and Amityville, New York.
26 Oct 18. Saab Receives Order for AESA X-band Fighter Array. Saab has received an order from the U.S. Government for X-band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, which has its base in fighter applications. Saab is a world leader in radar and sensor technology. With the fighter radar PS-05/A in operation on the Gripen fighter aircraft since 1992, Saab has solid experience of developing radars for fighters and other X band applications. Gripen is operational in Sweden, South Africa, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Thailand. (Source: ASD Network)
22 Oct 18. UltiSat to Provide Prime with MILSATCOM Services for USG Customer. UltiSat, Inc., a Speedcast Company, has been awarded a contract that is valued at more than $8m over five years in support of a prime contractor to provide high availability, commercial satellite communication (COMSATCOM) services to a U.S. Government customer in support of homeland security and civil defense activities. The managed COMSATCOM services, which will be continuously accessible by Government-furnished VSAT operating across North America, includes Ku-band satellite bandwidth on multiple satellites, anchoring at redundant and diverse commercial teleports, private and secure connectivity to Government facilities via a dedicated terrestrial (MPLS) network, public Internet access and VoIP services. (Source: Satnews)
28 Oct 18. Viasat Selects SpaceX to Launch ViaSat-3. Viasat Inc., (Nasdaq: VSAT) has selected SpaceX to launch one of their ViaSat-3 satellite missions. The Viasat mission is scheduled to launch in the 2020 to 2022 timeframe from the Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission will launch aboard a Falcon Heavy. Viasat selected the SpaceX Falcon Heavy for that rocket’s ability to fly a near direct-injection mission, inserting a ViaSat-3 satellite extremely close to geostationary orbit — as a result, the spacecraft can begin in-orbit testing (IOT) quickly after launch, rather than spending weeks or months performing orbit raising maneuvers. This is expected to enable Viasat to turn on its ultra-high-speed broadband service much quicker after launch than is possible with other launch vehicles.
TECHNOLOGY
30 Oct 18. FY18 Military Intelligence Program Top line budget. The Department of Defense released today the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) appropriated top line budget for fiscal year 2018. The total MIP budget, which included both the base budget and Overseas Contingency Operations appropriations, was $22.1bn. The department has determined that releasing this top line figure does not jeopardize any classified activities within the MIP. No other MIP budget figures or program details will be released, as they remain classified for national security reasons.
25 Oct 18. BAE Systems to deliver geospatial data under NGA’s Janus programme. BAE Systems is one of two companies selected by the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to produce and deliver geospatial data to support the NGA, combatant commanders, and other government organisations. The 10-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) Janus contracts, worth up to USD1.52bn, are designed to help NGA strengthen near real-time access to commercially created geospatial data, enriched content, and community-sourced information in a cost-effective manner to improve decision-making timelines, BAE Systems said. BAE Systems, along with Harris, will provide NGA data from all three Janus programmes – Janus Geomatics Precise Imagery, Janus Geography, and Janus Geomatics Elevation. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
29 Oct 18. The U.S. Air Force, acting as the acquisition authority, has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a contract valued at $54,626,116 to serve as Unified Platform systems coordinator for the USCYBERCOM Unified Platform program. Unified Platform will support all defensive and offensive cyber operations, as well as cyber intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber Mission Force. As the Unified Platform systems coordinator, Northrop Grumman will integrate disparate cyberspace platforms, enabling integrated management and synchronized cyber operations to give U.S. forces rapid access to a full spectrum of cyber capabilities. The Unified Platform contract was awarded competitively. Northrop Grumman will perform the work in San Antonio, Texas, as well as in locations in Maryland, Georgia and Ohio.
REST OF THE WORLD
LAND
01 Nov 18. The Bangladesh Army has partnered with Australian electronics company Codan Radio Communications to modernise its portable communications. The multi-million dollar deal includes the purchase of 200 Codan Patrol 2110M Manpacks for deployment in post disaster recovery efforts. The Manpacks will also be utilised for the Bangladesh Army’s United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa. Headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia, Codan Radio technicians will conduct in-country training and support for the Manpacks in the coming months as they aim to strengthen the relationship with the Bangladesh Army and continue to support military operations throughout the Asia Pacific and African regions. Codan’s military Patrol 2110M Manpack transceivers provide compliance to MIL-STD-188-141B ALE, FED-STD-1045 ALE, Digital Voice, interoperability with commercial and other …
01 Nov 18. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has received a $550m contract for the delivery of its Sky Capture air defence system to an unspecified army client in Asia. Sky Capture is an advanced command and control solution used for anti-aircraft systems and is equipped with a number of sensors developed by IAI and ELTA Systems, including advanced fire control and detection radars, as well as electro-optical sensors. The deal has been signed following the successful completion of a series of tests that demonstrated the capabilities of the anti-aircraft air defence system in engaging a wide range of targets. The contract has been awarded following an international tender, which involved IAI contending against several defence leaders. (Source: army-technology.com)
SEA
30 Oct 18. The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded a $244,714,371 not-to-exceed, firm-fixed-price contract to procure long lead material for Harpoon full-rate production Lot 91 in support of multiple Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (54 percent); McKinney, Texas (23 percent); Toledo, Ohio (8 percent); Burnley, United Kingdom (3 percent); Middletown, Connecticut (2 percent); Grove, Oklahoma (2 percent); Elkton, Maryland (1 percent); Lititz, Pennsylvania (1 percent); Galena, Kansas (1 percent); Huntsville, Alabama (1 percent), and various locations within the continental U.S. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. FMS funds in the amount of $244,714,371 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0016).
01 Nov 18. GRSE to build four survey vessels for Indian Navy for $329.52m. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) has been selected as the successful bidder for development and delivery of new Survey Vessels for the Indian Navy. With a total order value of Rs24.35bn ($329.52m), the contract for design, construction and supply of a fleet of four large Survey Vessels has been awarded by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD). The first vessel is slated to be delivered to the Indian Navy within three years, while the remaining three will be delivered within an interval of six months for each ship. GRSE has been given 54 months for the completion of the project from the date of signing of the contract. Once complete, the 110m-long Survey Vessel will have a deep displacement of 3,300t with the capability of full-scale coastal and deepwater hydrographic survey of ports and harbours, approaches and determination of navigational channels/routes. In addition, the four ships will be deployed by the navy to perform surveys of maritime limits up to Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) / extended continental shelf, as well as for the collection of oceanographic and geophysical data for defence applications. The fleet will also operate in secondary roles of performing limited search-and-rescue and ocean research missions, in addition to operating as a hospital / casualty holding ship. Vessels will be constructed by the company according to Classification Society Rules and Naval Ship Regulations. They will be fitted with advanced hydrographic equipment and sensors, including a Hello Hanger to accommodate one advanced light helicopter. Vessels will also conform to the latest Marine Pollution (MARPOL) Standards of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In April 2016, the request for proposal was issued to four public sector undertaking (PSU) shipyards, which are GRSE, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), in addition to two Indian private shipyards. (Source: naval-technology.com)
29 Oct 18. HGH Infrared secures SPYNEL sale for African warship order. French electro-optics house HGH Infrared Systems has won a multimillion Euro contract from an undisclosed shipyard to supply its SPYNEL-X panoramic infrared search-and-track system for three new warships on order for an African navy. Designed to provide wide area passive surveillance, SPYNEL-X can detect, track, and record an unlimited number of threats at a range of up to 15 km day and night, even in adverse weather conditions. The latest Visible Channel, Laser Range Finder (V-LRF) technology features a visible channel to enhance threat identification as well as a laser range finder to measure the threat range while maintaining continuous tracking. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
30 Oct 18. Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $365,730,330 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed fee, firm-fixed-price contract for new-construction DDG Aegis Weapon System Baseline K2 development and integration in support of the Republic of Korea Navy. This contract involves foreign military sales to the government of South Korea. This contract will provide for combat system installation, staging and integrated logistics support required for the installation, test and delivery of the Aegis Combat System K2 baselines for three Republic of Korea Navy DDGs. These efforts include program management, system engineering and computer program development; ship integration and testing; technical manuals and planned maintenance system documentation. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (66 percent); Ulsan, South Korea (18 percent); Seoul, South Korea (7 percent); Camden, New Jersey (7 percent); and Washington, District of Columbia (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by July 2026. Foreign military sales funding in the amount of $111,535,109 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured, in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(4) (International Agreement). The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-5102).
29 Oct 18. SIMBAD-RC selected for retrofit to Saudi frigates. European missile house MBDA has secured a contract for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ (RSNF’s) four F 2000S Madina-class frigates to be refitted with the company’s remotely-controlled SIMBAD-RC ship self-defence system. The retrofit will result in the removal of the Thales Crotale point defence missile system currently fitted to the Madina-class ships. Developed from the manually-controlled Système Integré de Mistral Bitube d’Auto-Défense (SIMBAD) twin launcher system already in service with the French Navy and over 10 export customers, the SIMBAD-RC variant is a private venture development intended to address market requirements for a lightweight, automated, close-in defence capability against air and surface threats. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
29 Oct 18. India signs USD950m deal for two Russian-built frigates. India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a USD950m deal with Russia on 27 October for the supply of two Admiral Grigorovich (Project 11356M)-class stealth frigates for the Indian Navy (IN). Official sources told Jane’s that the two frigates are to be built at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad and delivered to the IN in 36 and 48 months. However, no deal has been reached regarding plans for India’s state-owned Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) to build two similar platforms following a technology transfer as negotiations over price and technical details are still ongoing. Industry sources said Russia has partially built two Project 11356M frigates – Admiral Butakov and Admiral Istomin – which it now plans to complete for the IN. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
AIR
31 Oct 18. Colombian Navy reinforces helicopter fleet. The Colombian Navy is strengthening its rotary-winged capabilities with the procurement of new helicopters. Having recently procured two Airbus AS365N3 Dauphin helicopters, which should arrive in the country in December, the service is finalising the purchase of another two to arrive in mid-2019, the commander of the Grupo Aeronaval del Caribe, Capitán de Fragata Ramsés Ramírez, told Jane’s. The new aircraft will replace the navy’s Aerospatiale AS555 Fennec helicopters, one of which was lost in an accident, with the other being non-operational. These helicopters will operate off the Almirante Padilla-class frigates and the 20 de Julio-class offshore patrol vessels. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
31 Oct 18. Egypt to upgrade F-16C/D Block 40 powerplants. Egypt is to upgrade the engines of an unspecified number of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft under a USD273.5m contract announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 31 October. Under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract General Electric (GE) will upgrade the F110-GE-100 powerplants fitted to Egyptian Air Force (EAF) F-16 aircraft. Work will be performed in the US and will be complete by 30 October 2023. Also known as the Block 30 powerplant, the F110-GE-100 is the alternate engine for the Block 30/32/40-variants of the F-16 that was fitted from December 1985 (the primary engine being the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220). According to Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft: Development and Production the EAF received 36 F110-GE-100-powered F-16C and 81 F110-GE-100-powered F-16D Block 40 aircraft between October 1991 and June 2001 (during this timeframe, it also received aircraft fitted with the F100-PW-220 primary engine), though not all of these will remain in service today. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
30 Oct 18. India approves upgrade of coastguard’s maritime aircraft. India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of 17 licence-built Dornier Do-228 maritime reconnaissance aircraft (MRA) belonging to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for INR9.50bn (USD129.10m). The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sanctioned the MLU on 27 October, which will be executed by the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) that also licence-builds the multimission twin turboprop Dorniers. According to the government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB), the ‘state-of-the-art technology upgrade’ will include equipping the Dorniers with special maintenance tools and special test equipment. The PIB statement declared that the MLU will support the ICG in protecting India’s maritime zones and in patrolling its 2.01 million km2 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). (Source: IHS Jane’s)
31 Oct 18. Sierra Nevada Corp., Hagerstown, Maryland, has been awarded a $23,813,528 definitization modification (PZ0013) to contract FA8620-16-C-4003 for the Saudi King Air 350 program. This contract provides for the modification of two King Air 350 extended range aircraft with intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance/synthetic aperture radar capability; one transportable ground station; one fixed ground station; and one mission system trainer. Work will be performed in Hagerstown, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by May 2020. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition and one offer was received. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $99,779,067. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-16-C-4003).
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