AIRBUS

Airbus has confirmed that it achieved 800 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2018, subject to the finalisation of the auditing process. Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2017 it generated revenues of €59 billion and employed a workforce of around 129,000.

Airbus Australia Pacific has been awarded a two year contract extension to provide sustainment services through to 2024, including engineering, maintenance and supply support for the Royal Australian Air Force’s C-130J fleet. Australian content is valued at approximately $110 million for the two year extension and comprises about 62 per cent of the contract.

ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS

Alliant Techsystems has been awarded with a contract modification in support of Iraq’s Cessna 208 fleet and the 208/172 Trainer fleet. The modification is priced at $36.6 million and exercises Option Year Three for contractor logistics support. Work is expected to be completed in December 2019.

BELL HELICOPTER

Bell Helicopter and Team Valor has marked the anniversary of the V-280 Valor’s first flight. During the year Bell’s V-280 tilt-rotor has flown just 85 hours to open the type’s flight envelope, reaching a top speed of 250 kts and a rate of climb of 4,500 feet per minute. As part of the US Army-led Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) programme, the V-280 demonstrates that close collaboration between government and industry can deliver results.

BOEING

Boeing will maintain Qatar’s s fleet of AH-64E Apache helicopters through a FMS contract for $49.2 million which provides for Maintenance Augmentation Team services for the Qatari Air Force. Qatar had ordered 24 Apache Guardians in 2016 and expects to receive the aircraft from 2019 through to mid-2020.

Boeing delivered 69 Boeing 737 airplanes in December and set a new annual record of 806 deliveries in 2018, surpassing its previous record of 763 deliveries in 2017. Even as Boeing delivered more jetliners, the company again grew its significant order book with 893 net orders, including 203 airplane sales in December.

Boeing and flyadeal have announced that this Middle East carrier will grow its fleet with the Boeing 737 MAX to take advantage of the airplane’s fuel efficiency, range and passenger comforts. The airline committed to ordering 30 airplanes with options for 20 more in a deal that would be valued at up to $5.9 billion at list price.

BOEING SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT SUPPORT

Boeing Sikorsky Aircraft Support LLC, Kentucky, has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursable contract with a $1,104,807,664 maximum for life cycle contractor support for the MH-6, MH-47, and MH-60 aircraft. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $32,825,634 will be obligated at the time of award and the contract has a seven-year ordering period.

EMBRAER

Embraer and Republic Airways, the world’s largest E-Jet operator, have signed a contract for a firm order of 100 E-175 jets. This agreement was announced as a Letter of Intent at the Farnborough Airshow, in July 2018. The firm order has a value of $4.69 billion, based on current list prices and will be included in Embraer’s 2018 fourthquarter backlog. Deliveries will start in 2020.

FRENCH DEFENCE PROCUREMENT AGENCY

French Defence Procurement Agency has ordered three more A-330 MRTT aircraft from Airbus. France needs 15 MRTTs to replace its fleet of old C-135FR and KC-135R fleet. The acquisition programme is priced at roughly $3.4 billion and sees for the delivery of the aircraft in France’s specific “Phenix” configuration by the end of 2023.

GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., California, has been awarded a $291,391,727 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract for MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial systems support and services. Work is expected to be completed by December 31, 2019.

GE

General Electric Co., Massachusetts, has been awarded $33,261,704 for modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of eight F414-GE-400 install engines for the US Navy. These engines power the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. Work is expected to be completed in December 2020.

GERMANY

Germany will replace its obsolete Bell UH-1D helicopters with seven Airbus’ H-145M helicopters and expects delivery by 2020. The deal comes with a package covering logistics support, repair and maintenance efforts. The total value of the order has not been disclosed at this time.

KAI

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) on December 18, 2018 have rolled out the first Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) it has produced under contract for the Republic of Korea Army.

KAI plans to produce at least 200 to replace the Korean Army’s fleet of ageing MD500 Defenders as well as part of its fleet of AH-1S Cobras. The LAH programme is a partnership between Airbus Helicopters and KAI.

KUWAIT

Kuwait is buying four F/A-18E trainers from Boeing under the FMS programme. Awarded by the Naval Air Warfare Centre Training Systems Division, the contract provides for the design, fabrication, installation, test and delivery of two F/A-18E Tactical Operational Flight trainers (TOFT) and two F/A-18E low cost trainers. The contract is valued at $76.5 million and will run through February 2022.

LEONARDO

Leonardo’s first production-standard M-345 jet trainer successfully performed it first test flight, bringing it one step closer towards service entry with the Italian Air Force in 2020. The M-345 is a jet trainer aircraft with costs comparable to those of a turboprop aircraft. However it has superior performances compared to other airframes. The aircraft is powered by one Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan engine accelerating it to speeds of up to 460 mph.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

Lockheed Martin has been contracted to service target acquisition and vision sensors aboard Qatar Emiri Air Force AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The FMSs contract is priced at $10.2 million and includes work on the Modernised Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor. Qatar has 24 Apache Guardians in its fleet. Work is estimated to be completed by March 31, 2024.

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Texas, has been awarded a $3,378,834,083 fixed-price-incentive FMS (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) contract to produce Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target Advanced Capability-3 missiles with associated ground support equipment and initial spares. Estimated date of completion is December 31, 2024.

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Texas, has been awarded a $996,775,000 firm-fixed-price FMS contract for 84 F-16 upgrade to the V-configuration for the Government of Greece. Work is expected to be completed by June 30, 2027.

RAYTHEON

Raytheon has been contracted to support the US Navy with Air and Missile Defence Radar (AMDR) integration and production efforts at a cost of $114 million for continued combat system integration and test services including engineering and training; software and depot maintenance etc. The AN/SPY-6 is 30 times more sensitive than its predecessor. Work is expected to be completed by December 2019.

RUSSIA

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexei Krivoruchko has said that the Kazan-based Gorbunov Aircraft Enterprise has launched the manufacture of the upgraded Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber. The Tu-160 is the biggest plane with a variable-sweep wing and one of the most powerful combat aircraft in the world.

TURKEY

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible FMS to Turkey of eighty Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T), sixty PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $3.5 billion. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on December 18.