Indian Air Force pilots have begun training to operate CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters

This global wrap-up provides key updates of industry developments across the globe, including new procurement deals, capability introductions and key announcements.

Asia-Pacific

  • Lockheed Martin and Indian conglomerate TATA are teaming up to secure India-based suppliers for F-16 for the Indian Air Force.
  • The Pakistani Navy has taken delivery of its first domestically built fleet tanker, PNS Moawin.
  • The Filipino Department of National Defense (DND) is reportedly planning to acquire Swedish designed Gripen fighter jets to replace now retired F-5A/B.
  • The Indian Navy has employed Sterlite Tech to develop a secure digital network and telecom solution.
  • Indian Air Force pilots have begun training to operate CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters as part of a US$3.1 billion deal to provide 22 AH-64 Apaches and 15 CH-47F Chinooks.
  • The Vietnamese Navy has officially taken delivery of the second 1,200-tonne Pohang Class frigate, formerly operated by the Republic of Korea Navy.

Middle East:

  • The Iranian Army is set to unveil new, domestically built drones to support the Army’s ISR goals.

Europe:

  • Elbit Systems UK has been awarded a contract by the UK MoD to provide the Morpheus Battle Management Application worth between £10 million and £40 million, over an initial three-year period. Under the contract Elbit Systems UK will provide the British Army with an operationally proven battle management application for both headquarters and tactical units, based on TORC2H, Elbit Systems’ command and control platform that has been delivered to many customers worldwide, including to the Australian Defence Force as part of its LAND 200 Tranche 2 battle management system.
  • The UK MoD has announced that the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 Class frigate will be named HMS Birmingham.The Type 26 serves as the basis for Australia’s $35 billion SEA 5000 Hunter Class frigate program.
  • Finnish and Estonian Navies started the Baltic Shield 2018 joint-naval exercise, which were carried out in the Archipelago Sea and Gulf of Finland until 11 October.
  • Sweden and Saab have offered eight Gripen MS20 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria. The training of pilots and technicians is included in the offer, with a full QRA capability to be achieved within the budget framework.
  • The Airbus H225M helicopter successfully flew past 100,000 air hours. The 11-tonne H225M has proven its reliability and durability in combat conditions and crisis areas including Afghanistan, Chad, the Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic and Mali, while also supporting NATO-led operations in Libya.
  • The Russian United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) is gearing up to secure a construction contract for the 10,000-tonne Leader Class nuclear-powered guided missile destroyers. The Leader Class vessels will replace Sovremenny and Udaloy Class destroyers and can be armed with Kalibr and Onix missiles as well as ship-borne S-500 air and missile defence systems.
  • The Polish Military University of Land Forces has expanded their laser-based training capability.

North America:

  • The Pentagon grounded the F-35 fleet following the crash of a Marine Corps F-35B in South Carolina after issues with faulty engine tubes.
  • Boeing has secured more than 20 contracts with the Pentagon in recent months, worth a cumulative US$13.7 billion, with the company providing $805 million worth of MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial tankers, $9.2 billion for the next-gen US Air Force trainer, $2.4 billion for a USAF helicopter replacement, $2.9 billion for 18 KC-46 tankers and $3.9 billion for the next-generation of Air Force One.
  • Raytheon’s new AN/SPY-6(V) radar system successfully tracked a ballistic missile. The system will work with all variants of the SM-3 and SM-6 interceptor missiles.
  • Raytheon announced a partnership with Rheinmetall to offer the KF-41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle as part of the US Army’s M2 Bradley replacement program.
  • BAE Systems has announced it will be offering the CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle as part of the US Army’s M2 Bradley replacement program.
  • General Dynamics Land Systems used AUSA ’18 to announce that it would be offering the Griffin III infantry fighting vehicle as part of the US Army’s M2 Bradley replacement program.
  • The US Navy has awarded a US$9 billion contract for 10 Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers. The deal will cover US$5.1 billion to construct six Flight III to Huntington Ingalls Industries, with the remaining US$3.9 billion allocated for the remaining four vessels to be built by Maine-based Bath Iron Works.

Australia:


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