QUICKROUNDUP

(LoR) to the US government for six additional AH-64E Apache helicopters. Funding for the purchase had been cleared in August 2017 as an option to a 2015 contract for 22 Apache helicopters and 15 CH-47 Chinook heavylift helicopters for the Indian Air Force, however, the LoR officially kicks off the FMS request with this batch of helicopters destined for the Indian Army. The first of the helicopters are expected to be delivered in 2019 and will replace the mainly Russian-made platforms currently in its inventory.

RUSSIA

The RS-28 Sarmat is the Russia’s new silo-based missile complex with the heavy liquid-propellant ICBM capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Russia has been developing the Sarmat since the 2000s to replace the R-36M2 Voyevoda ICBM operational in the country’s Strategic Missile Force since 1988.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has revealed that the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute is currently developing a supersonic UCAV able to carry precision-guided and unguided air-launched weapons and it “would appear sometime in the next few years.”

SAAB

On February 23, 2018, Saab unveiled the first GlobalEye surveillance platform destined for the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft is a heavily- modified Bombardier Global 6000 business jet with adaptations including Saab’s Erieye ER airborne early warning and control radar, search radar and electro- optical/ infrared sensor.

US NAVY

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible FMS to Qatar for equipment and support to upgrade the Qatari Emiri Air Force’s (QEAF) Air Operation Center for an estimated cost of $197 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 07, 2018.

US DOD

President Donald Trump signed into law a spending bill that adds 143 aircraft to the order that was already requested by the Department of Defense. This bill includes the purchase of 20 additional F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters, ten F/A-18 Super Hornets and three KC-46A tanker aircraft worth $9.5 billion.

US NAVY

The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $158.2 million contract to a previously issued basic ordering agreement for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme which involves additional retrofit activities for delivered air systems to US and FMS customers. Contract will run until February 2019.