Americas
AV Inc. won an $11.3 million contract modification for RQ-20B Puma 3 AE systems. Work will be performed in Simi Valley, California, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2023. Puma is a third-generation tactical UAS that provides precise intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance utilizing an enhanced digital data link to transmit real-time imagery.
Raytheon won a $17 million contract modification, which adds scope to procure 40 learn to build AIM-9X Systems Improvement Program (SIP) III configured guidance units (GUs), and associated nonrecurring tooling and test equipment to support build and checkout of the SIP III GUs in a production factory environment for the Navy and Air Force. Work will take place in Arizona, Utah, Vermont, Maryland, California, Germany, Michigan, Minnesota and Canada. Expected completion date is in July 2024.
Middle East & Africa
Thales says it will supply Iraq with four GM403 air defense radars under a contract that will include a command and operations center. A company representative made the disclosure during the groundbreaking ceremony for the operations center. The second phase of the contract will involve the supply of 14 GM200 radars.
Sallyport Global Holdings won a $127 million undefinitized contract action to provide base operations support, base life support, and security services in the support of the Iraq F-16 program. Work will be performed at Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih Air Base, Iraq, and is expected to be completed by January 30, 2023. This contract was the result of a sole-source acquisition and involves Foreign Military Sales to Iraq.
Europe
The US Department of Defense is donating 580 Phoenix Ghost kamikaze drones to Ukraine as part of an additional security assistance package valued at $270 million. The Phoenix Ghost is speculated to have capabilities similar to AeroVironment’s Switschblade drone, but its full potential is still undisclosed, according, to Air Force Magazine.
Asia-Pacific
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) says it carried out the country’s first scramjet flight-test on July 24 using a S-520-RD1 rocket. The experiment focuses on gathering data on the fuel combustion so that the information can be compared with test points that were gathered in the wind tunnel. The S-520-RD1 rocket was equipped with a test device for a scramjet engine, which is planned for use in hypersonic aircraft that travel at five times the speed of sound, or Mach 1 and faster.
Today’s Video
WATCH: AeroVironment Puma LE Unmanned Aircraft System
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eozEuI5hvW0
