BOEING

The Boeing Company, Arizona, was awarded a $439,179,677 modification to contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for new Apache AH-64E aircraft and Longbow crew trainers. Work will be completed by March 01, 2025. FMS contract is for Morocco.

HENSOLDT

Sensor system supplier Hensoldt has been awarded a contract by Airbus Defence and Space to develop and produce a new Active Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) radar for the German and Spanish Eurofighter fleets.The project is jointly financed by the Eurofighter partner nations Spain and Germany, who will also be the first users of the radar in their fleets.

ISRAEL AIR FORCE

The Israel Air Forces’ (IAF) Red Baron squadron’s role is to train German crew to operate the Israeli “Eitan” (Heron TP) RPAV, as the German Air Force is in the process of developing their own version of the aircraft. “The ‘Red Baron’ squadron is the only non-Israeli Air force squadron that permanently operates in the IAF”. They have completed 10 courses on Heron TP and the eleventh course is on.

KUWAIT

The Predator remotely piloted aircraft deployed at the Alì Al Salem air base in Kuwait, have reached the prestigious milestone of 10,000 flight hours in theatre. The aircraft are supplied to the ArabaFenice Task Group of the Italian National Contingent Command Air/Task Force Air-Kuwait. The Air Force Predators MQ-9 are engaged in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

L3 TECHNOLOGIES

L3 Technologies Inc, Texas has been awarded a $900,000,000 ceiling, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for simulator common architecture requirements and standards (SCARS) which provides for the definition, design, delivery, deployment and sustainment of a simulator common architecture across the Air Force’s training portfolio, creation of a security operations centre and library as well as the execution of SCARS management services. SCARS has a 10-year ordering period through June 2030.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

Different versions of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 have flown in hundreds of aerial exercises, deployed for overseas operations by the US Marines and US Air Force and attacked Taliban targets in Afghanistan. Despite all that, the $398 billion fighter programme hasn’t been evaluated against the most stressing threats against sophisticated Russian, Chinese and Iranian air defence threats. The evaluation has slipped five more months due to Covid-19.

NETHERLANDS

The second Multinational MRTT aircraft was delivered to the Multinational MRTT Unit, at the Main Operating Base in Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Upon completion of the acceptance process, the ownership of the aircraft was transferred from Airbus Defence and Space to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, that manages the fleet on behalf of the nations.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp, California, has been awarded a $222,507,873 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Defence Support Programme Operations, Mission Threat Analysis and Engineering Sustainment ) for on-orbit satellite and anomaly resolution support, root cause analysis, mission threat analysis etc. Work is expected to be completed by March 31, 2030.

RAYTHEON

Hungary has contracted for 60 Raytheon AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM Extended Range missiles, worth $250 million, “in support of Hungary’s acquisition of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Air Defense System.” Hungary is also buying the related AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radars through a Direct Commercial Sale.

RAYTHEON MISSILES SYSTEMS

Raytheon Missiles Systems, Arizona, has been awarded a $495,058,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) programme support and annual sustainment. Work will be completed by June 30, 2026.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea has approved a plan to purchase more aircraft from overseas by 2027, rather than developing one at home, with a budget of $1.32 billion. Air Force operates four Boeing 737-based Peace Eye aircraft since 2011 and is pushing for two more. The committee also approved a project to secure advanced Baekdu reconnaissance aircraft between 2021-2026.

UNITED STATES (US)

Demonstrating airpower, bomber and fighter aircrew assigned and deployed to Pacific Air Forces, US launched four B-1 Lancers, two B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers and four F-15C Eagles and conducted Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions simultaneously with joint and allied partners within the Indo-Pacific region over the course of 24 hours on August 17 this year. Pacific Air Forces routinely conduct BTF operations to show the US’ commitment to allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.

US PACIFIC AIR FORCES

Red Flag-Alaska 20-3, a US’ Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise, concluded on August 14, 2020. Pilots completed roughly 560 sorties and logged approximately 1,500 flying hours which contributed to the pilots gaining the confidence needed to execute combat operations.