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JULY 2021 news
Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry |
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A Northrop Grumman-built MQ-4C Triton took to the skies for the first time in the highly upgraded multi-intelligence configuration known as integrated functional capability four (IFC-4). Triton is the U.S. Navy’s premier high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE), maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform.
A team of weather systems maintainers from the U.S. 557th Weather Wing’s 2nd Combat Weather Systems Squadron traveled from Hurlburt Field, Florida, to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 5-15 to install a Portable Doppler Radar weather system.
As part of the U.S. Defense Department’s Foreign Military Sales program, 9th Airlift Squadron aircrew from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, transports two CH-47F Chinook helicopters aboard a C-5M Super Galaxy from Dover AFB to Royal Australian Air Force Base Townsville, Australia in early July, further reinforcing the alliance between the two countries.
According to Defense Studies, the Ukrainian missile manufacturer State Joint Stock Holding Company (JSC) Artem has received a contract for the production of R-27 air-to-air missiles, as stated by the president of the company, Vladimir Zimin, on Artem’s website.
The British Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a contract worth approximately £250m to progress the design and development of Tempest, the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The contract, signed by BAE Systems, officially marks the start of the programme’s concept and assessment phase.
According to a press release published by Hensoldt on July 28, 2021, as part of the modernisation of all NATO identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) systems to the particularly secure new "Mode 5" standard, sensor solution provider HENSOLDT is equipping air surveillance radars of the German Air Force with the latest generation of IFF systems.
Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $482,895,193 modification to contract FA8675-21-C-0034 for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Production Lot 35. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Dominance Division Contracting Office, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.
According to a tweet published by Thomas Pougheon on July 28, 2021, the sixth batch of four Dassault Rafale fighters departing Bordeaux to join the Qatar Air Force at Doha.
According to a press release published by Lockheed Martin on July 27, 2021, Sikorsky has received a four-year contract from the Brazilian Air Force to provide logistics support for the service’s 16 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. The contract will improve fleet sustainment resulting from local storage of commonly required spare parts, assistance from a regional Sikorsky field service technician, and direct technical support from Sikorsky Engineering.
The Russian Helicopters Group integrated into Russia’s Rostec state hi-tech corporation is studying an option to develop a version of the Kamov Ka-226 (NATO reporting name: Hoodlum) helicopter, which will have an optional control system to perform pilotless flights, Group Director for Marketing and Business Development Oleg Landin told TASS.
BAE Systems has received a $117 million contract from Lockheed Martin to produce next-generation missile seekers for the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). The seeker technology enables LRASM to detect and engage specific maritime targets in contested environments with less dependence on traditional navigation systems. The next-generation seeker design reduces overall missile costs.
According to information published by the Moscow Times on July 23, 2021, Dmitry Shugayev, the chief of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, confirmed the agreement between Myanmar and Russia concerning the delivery of six Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets despite political troubles in Myanmar.
Saab has shipped its second aft airframe section, which is for use in the T-7A Red Hawk flight test program.
Indonesia signed a contract to buy 6 additional T-50i jet trainers made by Korea Aerospace Industries. KAI on July 20 announced that sale, listing a contract value of $240 million. This would bring Indonesia’s fleet of T-50i advanced trainers to 20 aircraft, with 16 acquired in 2012 to replace its older BAE Systems Hawk 53 trainers dating from the 1980s that are currently operating in the advanced and lead-in fighter training role.
The Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) Architecture Integration Lab (CABAIL) conducted its first Technology Insertion Event (TIE) June 21 to 25, at Redstone Arsenal, Ala, the US Army reports on its website. The event’s purpose was to incorporate maturing technologies and products from selected industry vendors into a simulated aviation force to explore and examine their relative operational value.
According to Defence Blog, Lockheed Martin has rolled out the first C-130J Super Hercules ordered by Germany for its Luftwaffe (German Air Force). This C-130J, with five other ones also purchased by Germany, will become part of a joint Franco-German squadron based at Evreux, France.
According to ChannelsTV, The aircraft arrived in Kano State on Thursday 22 July afternoon, the Nigerian Air Force said: “On hand to receive the aircraft were the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd), Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao,” a statement signed by NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, noted. Gabkwet said the second batch of the A-29 Super Tucano is expected to arrive in the country before the end of the year.
The Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant helicopter has demonstrated mission-relevant lifting capacity that will deliver troops and cargo in future combat at twice the range of the current fleet. The flight, carrying a 5,300-pound Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System training load, took place last week at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
According to information released by the British Ministry of Defense on July 22, 2021, United Kingdom has signed a contract to acquire 13 cutting-edge Protector also called MQ-9B, remotely piloted medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) aircraft from the American company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI).
According to a press release published by Thales on July 22, 2021, the firm has received an order from the French defence procurement agency (DGA) for 350 Scorpion® helmet-mounted sight and display systems and 400 digital multi-function displays.
