Rheinmetall Air Defence has awarded Hensoldt a $108.2 million contract to equip the new Skyranger 30 gun tank system with the Spexer 2000 air defense radar. The radar will be integrated with the German and Austrian builds of the FlakPz gun tank, the latest Rheinmetall turret system engineered to neutralize low-flying enemy aircraft. Hensoldt said...
Category: Defense Security Cooperation
Netherlands Reaches Agreement With US to Procure Lockheed’s Extended Range Missiles
The United States has formalized an agreement with the Netherlands to procure the latest version of Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range for the Dutch military forces. According to Lockheed, the missile, developed in partnership with the U.S. Air Force, provides continued significant long-range precision engagement capabilities for air-to-ground missions. The weapon can...
Israeli Ministry of Defense Awards Elbit Systems $190M Contract to Acquire Laser-Guided Iron Sting Mortar System
Elbit Systems has secured a $190 million contract to deliver its Iron Sting mortar munition to Israel. The agreement with the Israeli Ministry of Defense requires the Haifa-based defense contractor to complete the weapons delivery over the next two years. Elbit Systems Land General Manager Yehuda Vered said Iron Sting meets the international armed forces’...
Switzerland Taps Rheinmetall to Deliver Mortar Ammunitions
Switzerland has awarded Rheinmetall a contract to deliver 81 mm mortar cargo ammunition. Under the deal, Rheinmetall Expal Munitions will supply the Swiss armed forces with 81mm MX2-KM mortar weapons and 81 mm mortar cartridges cargo for illumination white light, illumination infrared and smoke discharge using red phosphorus. Deliveries are expected to be completed by...
US Seeks to Modernize Alliance Command and Control in Japan; Lloyd Austin Quoted
The United States plans to convert U.S. Forces Japan into a joint force headquarters and expand U.S.-Japan missile co-production. The planned conversion was announced following the conclusion of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee’s ministerial conference in Tokyo on Sunday. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a Wash100 awardee, described updating the alliance command and control as...
NATO Awards Contracts on Platform Concept Studies for Next-Generation Helicopters; Stacy Cummings Quoted
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency has awarded separate contracts to three teams led by Airbus Helicopters, Lockheed Martin Sikorsky and Leonardo to undertake a concept study on the design and execution of the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability program. NGRC is geared to replace the military alliance’s helicopters by the mid-2030s. NSPA said in a...
Australian Shipbuilder ASC’s $1.4B Defense Contract to Create Over 1,100 Jobs in Submarine Sustainment; Pat Conroy Quoted
The Australian government has awarded Osborne-based submarine builder and maintainer ASC a $1.44 billion contract to sustain its Collins-class submarines for the next four years. According to Australia’s Department of Defence, the agreement ensures job security for over 700 workers in South Australia and another 400 in Western Australia. It also aligns with the government’s...
Report: US Must Prioritize FMS From NATO Members to Secure Regional Security
A report by RAND suggested that the United States adopt a framework systematically prioritizing NATO members’ foreign military sale cases to align with defense security goals in Europe. Apart from taking on the proposed framework, the report made additional recommendations to the United States Army Europe and Africa to improve regional security, including: Ensuring USAREUR-AF...
US Approves Possible Foreign Military Sale of Small Diameter Bomb-Increment II to Belgium
The U.S. Department of State has approved the Belgian government’s $115 million Foreign Military Sale request to procure Small Diameter Bomb-Increment II missiles and related logistics and program support services. Belgium, a NATO ally, asked to buy 196 Guided Bomb Unit-53/B SDB-II all-up-rounds, SDB-II weapons load crew trainers, spare and repair parts, and unclassified software...
Greece Advances Allied Interoperability With Lockheed F-35 Purchase, Bridget Lauderdale Quoted
The Greek government has signed a letter of offer and acceptance for the purchase of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft through a U.S. foreign military sale, with an optional 20 additional F-35s. Washington approved the sale, valued at $8.6 billion, in January. Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and F-35 program general manager,...