AFGHANISTAN

Under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for $38.43 million contract modification, MD Helicopters will provide Afghanistan for performance based, contractor-managed operations to support systems readiness. This will include material management, technical data management, repair etc for the MD 530F, which is a legendary light utility helicopter and gunship. Work is estimated to be completed by November 2018.

BAE SYSYTEMS

According to BAE Systems, Qatar will make the first down payment for the procurement of 24 Typhoons and nine Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft in the third quarter of 2018.

BELL BOEING JPO

Bell Boeing JPO, Texas, has been awarded $4,19,15,33,822 for modification to convert the previously awarded V-22 tilt rotor aircraft advance acquisition contract to a fixed-price-incentive-fee multiyear contract to provide for the manufacture and delivery of 39 CMV-22B aircraft for the US Navy; 34 MV-22B aircraft for the US Marine Corps; one CV-22B for the US Air Force; and four MV-22B aircraft for the Government of Japan under FMS. Work is expected to be completed in November 2024.

BOEING

The Boeing Company, St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded an undefinitised contract action under FMS with a not-to-exceed value of $17,90,00,000 to procure system configuration set H12K for the Kuwait Air Force configured F/A-18E/F aircraft software development, modification, integration and testing. Work is expected to be completed in September 2022.

BOMBARDIER

On June 20 this year, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has announced that Delta Air Lines, Inc of Atlanta, Georgia has signed a firm purchase agreement for 20 CRJ900 aircraft. Based on the list price for the CRJ900 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $961 million. Delivery is expected by late 2018.

EMBRAER

Embraer is reportedly on the verge of completing a deal with Portugal confirming the country as the first export customer for the KC-390 tanker transport. It comes just over a year after Portugal opened negotiations to buy five KC-390s, with an option for a sixth, with deliveries starting in 2021.

EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union (EU) proposes investing £16 billion (about $18.56 billion) during the period 2021-2027 to further enhance Europe’s leadership in space. This new space programme, with a budget 50 per cent higher than that of the previous seven-year period, will reinforce the EU as a world space player successfully competing with both other state and private-sector space actors.

GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc, California, has been awarded an undefinitised contract action with a not-to-exceed value of $3,95,66,023 to provide additional unmanned air system intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance surge support for Marine Corps Task Force Southwest operations using contractor-owned/contractoroperated MQ-9 Reaper unmanned air systems. Work is expected to be completed in November 2018.

ISRAELI AIR FORCE

Three additional Lockheed Martin F-35I combat aircraft, known as “Adir” in the Israeli Air Force, landed on June 24, 2018 at Nevatim Air Base, located South East of the city of Be’er Sheva, and were inducted into the Israeli Air Force’s 140th “Golden Eagle” Squadron.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

The Kingdom of Bahrain will receive Lockheed Martin’s 16 F-16 V Block 70 aircraft, valued at $1,12 billion under the FMS programme of the US government. The F-16V or Viper is the latest variant of the Fighting Falcon fourth-generation, multi-role, fighter aircraft. The F-16V fighter jet can be deployed in suppression of enemy air defence missions, air-to-ground and air-to-air combat, deep interdiction and maritime interdiction missions.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Australia has announced that it will move forward with its long-planned acquisition of six Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft. The initial $1 billion deal includes one MQ-4C, as well as a $147 million programme with the US Navy for development, production and sustainment of the aircraft. Six drones, including facilities etc will cost $5.1 billion. The first of the Triton is due to enter service in mid-2023 and all six drones would be in operation by late 2025.

RAYTHEON

The $65,4 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Raytheon, provides for systems engineering and software development services of the aircraft’s ALQ-227 communications countermeasures set. At present, the EA-18G is slated to be the only dedicated electronic warfare aircraft in the USA’s future force. Work is expected to be completed in June 2023.

Raytheon Company Missile Systems, Arizona, has been awarded a $9,30,00,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, for Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) F/A-18E/F integration. Work is expected to be completed by July 1, 2023.

RUSSIAN AIR FORCE

Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Alexey Krivoruchko said on June 30, 2018 that the Russian Air Force has signed the first state procurement contract for 12 fifth-generation fighters and deliveries will start shortly. The Su-57 made its maiden flight eight years ago. CEO of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation Yuri Slyusar said that the first batch of Su-57s could come into service in 2019.

ROLLS-ROYCE

Rolls-Royce Corporation has been awarded a $42,00,00,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, for AE 3007H (F137) engine-sustainment services. This contract provides for maintenance, repair and overhaul of the engine as well as programme management and sustaining engineering services. Work is expected to be completed by June 30, 2024.

SINGAPORE AIR FORCE

On July 4, 2018, Senior Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman officiated at a ceremony to mark the achievement of Full Operational Capability status by the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s PYthon-5 and DERby (SPYDER) Ground Based SAM Air Defence system manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems-Israel.

TEJAS

The Tejas programme has achieved a rare distinction by completing 4,000 successful test flights on June 19, 2018. All the flight tests and aircraft instrumentation related activities are planned, coordinated and executed by the National Flight Test Centre, ADA , in Bengaluru.

TEXTRON AVIATION DEFENCE

Textron Aviation Defence Kansas, has been awarded a $3,61,98,112 undefinitised contract modification to a previously awarded undefinitised contract action under FMS to the Argentina Air Force, increasing the not-toexceed price to $12,49,17,625 for four T-6C+ aircraft, maintenance, pilot training and interim contractor support for maintenance. Work is expected to be completed by November 30, 2018.

UAE

The government of the United Arab Emirates is placing a $38.8 million order with Saab in support of its advanced Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) solution Global-Eye. The Erieye family of AEW&C aircraft offer small size, lower purchase price, dual air/sea scan capabilities and comparatively cheaper operating costs.

ROYAL AIR FORCE, UK

The UK Royal Air Force, UK will soon take delivery of its first MQ-9B SkyGuardian which will form the basis of the UK’s future Protector RPAS. The MQ-9B SkyGuardian mediumaltitude, long-endurance remotely-piloted air system is a version of General Atomics’ Predator B. In May last year, MQ-9B SkyGuardian set a 48-hour continuous flight endurance record for the company’s Predator aircraft series. The platform will replace the service’s current armed Reapers.