QUICKROUNDUP

RAYTHEON

Raytheon has received on April 24, 2018 a $12.1 million contract modification for the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile. Awarded by the US Air Force, the agreement calls for production Lot 32 field spares and initial depot spares for FMS going to the Governments of Australia, South Korea, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Turkey. Work is expected to be completed by January 31, 2021.

TURKISH AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES

Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc (TAI) has started work to produce Turkey’s national fighter jet, the TF-X. The fifthgeneration fighter jet, one of the country’s largest design projects announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdo an, will be realised within a project-based incentive system. Preliminary design activities received a TL 4.8 billion ($1.16 billion) incentive certificate under the incentive programme.

USA

As part of efforts to boost the competitiveness of its arms manufacturers internationally, the US government is planning to drop its administrative surcharge on foreign arms exports. As of June 2018, the surcharge will drop from 3.5 to 3.2 per cent, Defense Security Cooperation Agency director US Lieutenant General Charles Hooper said during an interview at the ILA Berlin Air Show.

US DSCA

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has approved the possible FMS of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to the kingdom of Bahrain. The fleet will be armed with 14 AGM-114 Hellfires and 56 Advance Precision Kill Weapon System II. The estimated cost of the acquisition is set at $911.4 million. The Viper’s manufacturer Bell, alongside Textron and General Electric have been listed as principal contractors on the sale.

USAF

The Air Force’s 45th Space Wing supported United Launch Alliance’s successful launch of the AFSPC-11 spacecraft aboard an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station April 14, 2018. The successful launch of AFSPC-11 enables the opportunity for increased satellite communications capabilities for the war fighter once its payload reaches geosynchronous orbit.

US NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

The US Naval Air Systems Command has confirmed that the V-22 Aerial Refueling System (VARS) will start testing this fall. According to a US Marine Corps statement, VARS-equipped Ospreys will be capable of providing an additional 10,000 pounds of fuel to aircraft forward deployed with Marine Expeditionary Units, extending the range of aircraft such as the F-35B and other V-22s. The new refueling system is to be operational by September 30, 2019.