Americas
Fidelity Technologies won an $18.7 million deal for the design and procurement of a UH-60M flight simulator. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Slovakia, with an estimated completion date of September 13, 2027. UH-60 Black Hawk is a multi-mission helicopter developed by Sikorsky that has been operational in the US Army since 1978. The export version of the UH-60 Black Hawk is designated as S-70A.
FlightSafety won a $9.8 million deal for the exercise of the KC-46 Aircrew Training System Production Year 9 Options. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $435,545,433. Work will be performed at Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by September 15, 2025.
Middle East and Africa
President Joe Biden condemned the militant group Hamas for “sheer evil” for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens. “Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear,” Biden said. He added, “Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel’s back. We’ll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.”
Europe
BAE Systems test-fired 155-millimeter projectiles from an M109-52 self-propelled howitzer. The M109A7 platform proved its compatibility with the Rheinmetall L52 155mm, 52-caliber cannon during the test. The M109-52 is an upgrade to the current 39-caliber cannon, merging the M109A7 platform with the L52 cannon for additional range.
The British Army received its first Archer 6×6 self-propelled howitzer (SPH) from Sweden on September 29. The first of 14 Archers the UK purchased from Sweden arrived by roll-on, roll-off (RO-RO) ship at Marchwood Military Port on the UK’s southern coast. The government-to-government agreement signed in March will fill the gap left in the British Army’s 155 mm close support capability by the UK’s donation of 32 AS90 tracked SPHs to Ukraine. The UK MoD said on its website that Archer was being procured as an interim solution to meet the UK’s commitment to NATO’s New Force Model (NFM).
Asia-Pacific
France’s Défense Conseil International (DCI), the operating group of the French Ministry for the Armed Forces, has won an €11.7m support contract for an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) programme in Benin. The contract, which was awarded on September 30, 2023, will see DCI provide Benin with drones and other equipment, as well as training for its personnel.
Today’s Video
WATCH: Israel Regains ‘Full Control’ Of Gaza Fence; ‘Bodies Of 1,500 Hamas Terrorists Found,’ Says IDF
