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Americas General Dynamics won a $21.6 million modification for additional hours of Abrams system technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of September 22, 2023. M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems. The first M1 tank was produced in 1978, the M1A1 in 1985 and the M1A2 in 1986. The Navy awarded Insitu a $191.8 million modification, which procures 13 RQ-21A Blackjack air vehicles, 25 ScanEagle air vehicles, 48 RQ-21A and ScanEagle payloads and turrets, support equipment, spares and sustainment spares and tools in support of RQ-21A Blackjack and ScanEagle unmanned ai…

A regular topic of conversation here and on Midrats (it came up quite a bit on Sunday’s podcast with Jerry Hendrix), is the lack of discussion in the public space about the importance of a strong Navy to our republic’s economic and military security. Sure, inside our salons, slack channels, and email threads we talk to each other a lot, but we seem to have a hard time getting our message out to the general public. Sunday night’s 60-Minutes was an exception to the rule. There is a lot of credit to go around here. First of all, you have to give credit to the 60-Minutes team fronted by Norah O’Donnell and lead producers Keith Sharman and Roxanne Feitel. This two-segment effo…

Americas Brazil is in discussions about the possibility of extending its initial order of Saab Gripen E fighter jets from 36 to 40. The Defense Minister, Jose Mucio, confirmed that the Brazilian Air Force has expressed the need for additional aircraft and they are currently studying the matter. The 2014 agreement between Brazil and Saab, […]View the full article

Americas The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory won a $2 billion deal for technical and engineering support necessary to maintain and sustain the Trident II Strategic Weapon System Mark 6 Guidance Subsystem and support the strategic guidance, navigation, and control research and development efforts required to enable follow-on, full-scale development of the Mark 7 Guidance Subsystem, […]View the full article

The United States Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $2.28 billion contract modification to support advance procurement and advance construction of additional Columbia‑class ballistic missile submarine hulls, according to a contract announcement. The modification applies to the previously awarded contract N00024‑17‑C‑2117 and covers work for hull numbers SSBN 828–832, representing upcoming submarines in […]View the full article

At Uncrewed Innovation Day 2025, defense technology firms MDSI and Armadrone conducted a live demonstration of advanced drone warfare integration, showcasing the controlled release of a precision-guided munition from an uncrewed aerial platform. The trial featured Armadrone’s PUNISHER drone carrying MDSI’s precision-guided munition, known as MAILMAN, in a test that emphasized seamless interoperability and accuracy. […] The post Punisher drone tests MAILMAN munition in Denmark first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Americas Northrop Grumman won a $32.6 million modification, which exercises option years two and three for continued fabrication and installation support to retrofit the Delta System Software Configuration 4.0 (DSSC4) capabilities, to include Tactical Targeting Network Technology and the Beyond Line of Sight for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Work will be performed in Melbourne, […]View the full article

Americas Austal USA, Mobile won a $47 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, and cost-only modification for Littoral Combat Ships class design support, and integrated data and product model environment support. Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama and Pittsfield, Massachusetts and is expected to be completed by June 2025. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will deliver over 1,500 Zetros logistics trucks to the Canadian Armed Forces. The delivery includes 1,000 light Zetros (two-axle …

Americas Sauer Construction won a $37.6 million task order to provide construction of two additions to the Trident Training Facility, a Strategic Systems Program missile control center team trainer, and Naval Sea Systems Command weapons handling system team trainer at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. The contract also contains two unexercised options which, if […]View the full article

Americas Vectrus Systems won a $7 million modification to a cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable contract. This modification exercises an option to provide case/project, program, financial management, and engineering and technical support for the MH-60R Multi-Mission helicopter, subsystems, armament, engines, airborne weapons, spares, and support equipment for the government of Australia. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in September 2025. Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $7,709,869 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Wa…

Americas Rolls-Royce Marine North America won a $23.5 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for highly specialized design agent engineering and technical services for the LCS, Freedom variant, machinery plant control and monitoring system, and control area network and monitoring ships control system, DDG-51 class machinery control system, and LSD 41/49 propulsion logic management units. Work will be performed in Walpole, Massachusetts (80%); Mayport, Florida (6%); Norfolk, Virginia (4%); San Diego, California (4%); and various locations outside and across the continental US, each less than 1% (6%). Work will be completed by May 2030. F…

Americas The US Army has inked a contract with Bombardier Defense to receive one jet aircraft for its High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program jet plane prototype. Bombardier’s Global 6500 aircraft will serve as the blueprint for the program’s large-cabin business jet unit, fitted with advanced deep-sensing equipment for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) […]View the full article

Americas Austal USA has received a $113.9 million deal to design the US Navy Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship (T-AGOS 25). The agreement includes a $3.2 billion option for the design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS vessels. Work on the first T-AGOS will take place at various US locations in partnership with L3Harris Technologies, […]View the full article

Americas Argon ST won a $21 million delivery order under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement for the procurement of nine amplifier chassis for the support of operations of the MQ-4C Triton with the first deployment of IFC 4-configured unmanned aircraft system. Work will take place in Virginia. Expected completion will be by March 2025. Sikorsky won a $17.2 million order, which provides non-recurring engineering in support of incorporating a one-second or less Engine Fuel Firewall Shutoff Valve into the CH-53K aircraft. The CH-53K is the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. The most powerful helicopter in the Department of De…

Americas Leonardo DRS has received a contract to create a new version of the weapons control system for the US Army’s M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzer. The goal is to use modern electrical technology to make the system more precise, responsive, and reliable. The company must ensure that the new system does not reduce any of the Paladin’s current capabilities. This is important because the Paladin is a critical combat system used by the military. Leonardo DRS is excited to provide this advanced technology to the Army. The company believes its innovative solutions will support the military’s long-term needs. Lockheed Martin has demonstrated the hypersonic defense capa…

Americas The KC-135 has set a new endurance mission record of 72 hours by two of the aerial refueling tankers from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing. The jets went airborne and landed repeatedly over the 72 hours and had at least one engine running while being refueled and serviced on the ground. Engine-running flight crew changes were also carried out over the three-day mission. Both aircraft refueled B-2 bombers, B-52s, an E-3 Sentry, and an E-6B Mercury. Engine oil servicing was only done during one of the engine running crew changes (ERRCs), allowing the crews to demonstrate tanker “drop-in” concept. The previous KC-135 endurance mission record was 40 hours and was also set…

Americas Boeing won a $50 million modification, which exercises options to procure eight P-8A Increment 3 retrofit A-kits, to include associated special tooling in support of anti-submarine warfare capabilities upgrades for the Navy. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida; and St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in July 2026. Fiscal 2023 […]View the full article

Americas Boeing won a $1.2 billion contract action for the E-7A Rapid Prototype program. This contract provides for the initiation of the development activities for the program. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be complete by August 2024. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is […]View the full article

As we started with Japan this week, let's stick with the topic - but this time on a more positive note. Even more than the USA, Japan is a maritime and aerospace power. That is where her geography and technology give her the comparative advantage. As the USA struggles to increase her forces to meet the challenge west of Wake, we rightfully look to our close ally in the region that has an impressive combo of GDP and population - Japan. Even though she limited herself for decades to 1% of GDP on defense, with the size of her economy, she still has an impressive military. As those who have worked with her know, what she does have is quality in both personnel and material. Ke…

Americas Lockheed Martin has achieved a significant milestone in tactical airlift with the delivery of the 2,700th C-130 Hercules aircraft. This landmark aircraft, a KC-130J Super Hercules tanker variant, joins the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252) stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Notably, this delivery coincides with the C-130’s 70th anniversary of first flight this year, further highlighting the enduring legacy of this versatile military transport aircraft. The C-130 Hercules, first introduced in 1954, has become a ubiquitous workhorse in military aviation circles. Renowned for its unmatched versatilit…