BOEING

Boeing has won a $156.9 million contract modification for the FMS to Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA Original Equipment Manufacturer Training Programme. Saudi Arabia’s F-15SA Advanced Eagle includes Raytheon’s APG-63(V)3 AESA radar, fly-by-wire control systems and two additional under-wing weapons stations, bringing the total to 11. It also features other modifications. Work is expected to be completed by December 31, 2021.

BELL-BOEING

Taking tilt-rotor operations to new heights, Rolls-Royce AE 1107C engines have exceeded one million engine flight hours on the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, the world’s only production tilt-rotor aircraft. The Bell-Boeing V-22 fleet has also reached a milestone, achieving 500,000 flight hours.

GKN AerospaceGKN Aerospace has designed, manufactured and delivered a mid-scale demonstrator tool to the GKN Aerospace Filton facility under the ‘Wing of Tomorrow’ programme. This tool provides a fully functioning automated low-pressure RTM system for the Airbus-led programme’s composite wing spar. The spar is considered one of the most challenging aerospace components to design and manufacture.

GULFSTREAM

Gulfstream Aerospace has won a $31.9 million order for the purchase of one Gulfstream aircraft, parts, tooling and two years of Contractor Logistics Support for sustainment of the aircraft. Gulfstream, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, has produced more than 2,000 aircraft since 1958. Work is expected to be completed by May 31, 2022.

ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES

At the DSEI 2019, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled a new electro-optical system called POPSTAR, which is capable of detecting small UAVs. The system is designed for both military and civilian uses such as border surveillance and protecting civilian sites such as airports. It consists of an electro-optical system that can be mounted on a tripod or vehicle and rotates to scan an assigned sector to detect and then track flying objects.

KUWAIT

The first of the Airbus H225Ms to be delivered to Kuwait later this year, has started flight testing. Kuwait ordered 30 of the long-range multi-role H225Ms in August 2016. They will be operated by the Kuwait Air Force and the Kuwait National Guard. There are currently 95 H225Ms in service across the world, having accumulated around 114,000 flight hours.

MARVIN ENGINEERING

Marvin Engineering has won a $42.4 million firm-fixedprice contract for 770 F/A-18E/F LAU-127 E/A guided missile launchers for the US Navy as well as for the governments of Kuwait and Switzerland. The Marvin LAU-127 missile rail launcher enables the F/A-18 carrier-based strike fighter to carry and launch the radar-guided AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile and the AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-seeking missile.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN

Northrop Grumman has won a $11 million firm-fixedpriced delivery order for electronic surveillance in support of the P-8 aircraft programme. The P-8A Poseidon has advanced sensors and mission systems, including a state-of-the-art multi-role radar, high definition cameras and an acoustic system. Work is expected to be completed by December 1, 2021.

Northrop Grumman won a $16.2 million contract modification that provides non-recurring engineering to incorporate Phase II of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System/Joint Tactical Radio System on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The modification is in support of the Government of Japan. Estimated completion will be in December 2021.

Northrop Grumman has won a $375.8 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for Multi Function Active Sensor Radar Systems for the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System. The MQ-4C Triton is an autonomously operated system that provides a persistent maritime ISR capability using multiple maritime sensors. Estimated completion date is December 31, 2025.

RAFAEL ADVANCED DEFENCE SYSTEMS

Local media has reported that Rafael Advanced Defence Systems has acquired a 50 percent stake in Israeli aerospace engineering company Kanfit. The deal is valued at tens of millions of shekels. Founded in 1986, Kanfit is considered a leading global supplier for UAV components. The company manufactures primary and detailed parts, subassemblies and ready-to-fly assemblies across the entire production chain.

ROYAL NETHERLANDS AIR FORCE

The Netherlands’ Defence organisation is buying an additional nine F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft at around €1 billion (about $1.10 billion). State Secretary Barbara Visser informed the House of Representatives by letter on October 8, 2019. The total number of F-35s of the Royal Netherlands Air Force will increase to 46.

US STATE DEPARTMENT

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible FMS to Korea of 120 AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) with support for an estimated cost of $253 million.

US NAVY

The US Navy has awarded Robertson Fuel Systems a $31.1 million contract to manufacture and deliver eight V-22 mission auxiliary tank systems for extended range of flight requirements in support of V-22 aircraft for the US Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force as well as the Government of Japan. Japan had ordered the first five Ospreys in July 2015 for $332 million. Work will be completed in November 2021.

The US Navy has awarded Bell Boeing Joint Programme Office a $14.5 million modification, which exercises an option to procure support to implement capability defect packages and problem reports in accordance with work package task lists in support of V-22 fleet sustainment efforts. Work is expected to be completed by June 2021.

VISTARA

Vistara, a joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, has finalised an engine order for 26 LEAP-1A engines to power 13 new Airbus A-320neo in addition to the 37 leased aircraft from the A-320neo family, ordered in July 2018 and the ten leased aircraft already in service. Vistara has also signed a long-term Rate Per Flight Hour (RPFH) agreement for the maintenance of the 120 LEAP-1A engines.